Regular expressions inside the "Replace with" field

[raymond]

Hi Karlis,

One of the things that I think would be very useful is to allow us to use Regular expressions inside the "Replace with" field. For example: Let's say I want to replace all the \n\n with a \n. I would enter "\n\n" inside the "Search for" field and then enter "\n" inside "Replace with" field.

[chrisjlocke]

Moving message to Feature Requests...

[chrisjlocke]

WeBuilder allows this already, and has done for some time.


Personally, I don't think you want to be using regular expressions anyway, as you are replacing normal text. The text may represent regular expressions (actually, its just PHP code) but as far as the search and replace dialog is concerned, its normal text.

[MikeyB]

Actually the regular expressions do not work very well at all (if at all) when replacing, take this example:

Here is a small sample of some XML that I get from a GPS device, when initially viewed on the PC it is all one a single line:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<gpx xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:mbx="http://www.motionbased.net/mbx" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.motionbased.net/mbx http://www.motionbased.net/site/schemas/mbx/0.0.1/mbx.xsd" creator="MotionBased Technolgies http://www.motionbased.com" version="1.0"><trk><mbx:gpsTrackPk>6055766</mbx:gpsTrackPk><trkseg><trkpt lat="51.682227" lon="-2.355575"><ele>77.0</ele><time>2008-03-27T14:37:13+00:00</time><course>124.54918253409951</course><speed>1.288450119285796</speed></trkpt></trkseg></trk></gpx>

To make it a bit more readable I do a regex search and replace (in my other editor) like this:
Search for: <
Replace with: \n<

And this results in:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<gpx xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:mbx="http://www.motionbased.net/mbx" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.motionbased.net/mbx http://www.motionbased.net/site/schemas/mbx/0.0.1/mbx.xsd" creator="MotionBased Technolgies http://www.motionbased.com" version="1.0">
<trk>
<mbx:gpsTrackPk>6055766
</mbx:gpsTrackPk>
<trkseg>
<trkpt lat="51.682227" lon="-2.355575">
<ele>77.0
</ele>
<time>2008-03-27T14:37:13+00:00
</time>
<course>124.54918253409951
</course>
<speed>1.288450119285796
</speed>
</trkpt>
</trkseg>
</trk>
</gpx>

Do the same search & replace in WeBuilder I end up with:

Code: Select all

\n<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
\n<gpx xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:mbx="http://www.motionbased.net/mbx" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.motionbased.net/mbx http://www.motionbased.net/site/schemas/mbx/0.0.1/mbx.xsd" creator="MotionBased Technolgies http://www.motionbased.com" version="1.0">\n<trk>\n<mbx:gpsTrackPk>6055766\n</mbx:gpsTrackPk>\n<trkseg>\n<trkpt lat="51.682227" lon="-2.355575">\n<ele>77.0\n</ele>\n<time>2008-03-27T14:37:13+00:00\n</time>\n<course>124.54918253409951\n</course>\n<speed>1.288450119285796\n</speed>\n</trkpt>\n</trkseg>\n</trk>\n</gpx>

Still all on a single line. It's simply inserted "\n" instead of a new line

It's only the search that uses regex rather than the replace.

[chrisjlocke]

Unsure if its meant to work like that or not. Looking at the help, it would suggest so.

A workaround (or, how it also works!) is to click 'Multiline' then search for < and replace with <_ (substitute the _ for pressing return) (or _<, depending on your preference)

[MikeyB]

Nice one, that does indeed work, good find