1 files changed, 17 insertions, 10 deletions
diff --git a/src/org/unitConverter/UnitsDatabase.java b/src/org/unitConverter/UnitsDatabase.java
index 37d53d4..520195c 100755
--- a/src/org/unitConverter/UnitsDatabase.java
+++ b/src/org/unitConverter/UnitsDatabase.java
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.function.BiFunction;
 import java.util.function.Function;
 import java.util.function.Predicate;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
 import org.unitConverter.dimension.UnitDimension;
 import org.unitConverter.math.DecimalComparison;
@@ -972,6 +974,11 @@ public final class UnitsDatabase {
 	}
 
 	/**
+	 * A regular expression that separates names and expressions in unit files.
+	 */
+	private static final Pattern NAME_EXPRESSION = Pattern.compile("(\\S+)\\s+(\\S.*)");
+
+	/**
 	 * The exponent operator
 	 * 
 	 * @param base
@@ -1114,13 +1121,13 @@ public final class UnitsDatabase {
 		}
 
 		// divide line into name and expression
-		final String[] parts = line.split("\t");
-		if (parts.length < 2)
+		final Matcher lineMatcher = NAME_EXPRESSION.matcher(line);
+		if (!lineMatcher.matches())
 			throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format(
-					"Lines must consist of a dimension name and its definition, separated by tab(s) (line %d).",
+					"Error at line %d: Lines of a dimension file must consist of a dimension name, then spaces or tabs, then a dimension expression.",
 					lineCounter));
-		final String name = parts[0];
-		final String expression = parts[parts.length - 1];
+		final String name = lineMatcher.group(1);
+		final String expression = lineMatcher.group(2);
 
 		if (name.endsWith(" ")) {
 			System.err.printf("Warning - line %d's dimension name ends in a space", lineCounter);
@@ -1200,13 +1207,13 @@ public final class UnitsDatabase {
 		}
 
 		// divide line into name and expression
-		final String[] parts = line.split("\t");
-		if (parts.length < 2)
+		final Matcher lineMatcher = NAME_EXPRESSION.matcher(line);
+		if (!lineMatcher.matches())
 			throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format(
-					"Lines must consist of a unit name and its definition, separated by tab(s) (line %d).",
+					"Error at line %d: Lines of a unit file must consist of a unit name, then spaces or tabs, then a unit expression.",
 					lineCounter));
-		final String name = parts[0];
-		final String expression = parts[parts.length - 1];
+		final String name = lineMatcher.group(1);
+		final String expression = lineMatcher.group(2);
 
 		if (name.endsWith(" ")) {
 			System.err.printf("Warning - line %d's unit name ends in a space", lineCounter);