How do I merge data in different lines in notepad++ whatever is between two different dates?

Yusuf Qureshi

Example -
"9/23/16, 09:03 - Name A: aadfajlfdjsalfj fasdfasfjalkfjalj afjaljflajf asflajfljljieoeijfhoioij jowjroiwcsojcos wjorjoijsoavaosg

2742jsogoaj

9/24/16, 12:05 - Name B: jgaojaegeioie ejgpoapsdfs;
pajavpoapokads

askjflkj gkjklgja"

=======================================================================================

I want to merge data after the “9/23/16, 09:03 - Name A:” ********** till the words mentioned before 9/24/16, 12:05 - Name B:

Dates should be always in a new line only like the below matter.

9/23/16, 09:03 - Name A: aadfajlfdjsalfj fasdfasfjalkfjalj afjaljflajf asflajfljljieoeijfhoioij jowjroiwcsojcos wjorjoijsoavaosg 2742jsogoaj
9/24/16, 12:05 - Name B: jgaojaegeioie ejgpoapsdfs; pajavpoapokads askjflkj gkjklgja"

Can anybody give a solution to my question as I have a huge data which is like the above example.

Claudia Frank

@Yusuf-Qureshi

select the lines and then Edit->Line Operations->Join Lines

Cheers
Claudia

Yusuf Qureshi

Thanks a lot for replying… :) but that is what manually I can do and I am aware of that where as I have a huge data and is taking lots and lots of time doing it line by line… I was searching for a command or any sort of short cuts by which I can do it for all complete file…

guy038

Hello, Yusuf Qureshi,

As usual, a simple Search/Replacement, in Regular expression mode, is the right way to do ! So :

Go back to the very beginning of your file ( CTRL + Origin )
Open the Replace dialog ( CTRL + H )
In the Find what zone, insert the regex \R+(?!\d\d?/\d\d?/(\d\d)?\d\d)
In the Replace with zone, type any character which will replace the deleted EOL characters. It could be :
- A space character
- Any separator as, for instance, the | pipe character or a comma, or…
- Nothing, if you want to join the lines, strictly
Select the Regular expression search mode ( IMPORTANT )
Click on the Replace All button

Notes on that S/R :

The first part \R+ syntax matches any kind of consecutive EOL characters ( \r\n ) in Windows files, ( \n ) in Unix files or ( \r ) in Mac files
The third part \d\d?/\d\d?/(\d\d)?\d\d would match any date, of the form :
- 1/12/16
- 23/3/16
- 10/11/16
- 1/2/16
- 1/12/2016
- 23/3/2016
- 10/11/2016
- 1/2/2016
That third part is embedded in the syntax (?!.........), which is called a negative look-ahead. This means that an overall match will be true, ONLY IF, right after the EOL character(s), a date, with the above sizes, cannot be found !
In that case, the range of consecutive EOL character(s) will be replaced, by any string, typed in the replacement field, even nothing !

Best Regards,

guy038

P.S. :

You’ll find good documentation, about the new Boost C++ Regex library, v1.55.0 ( similar to the PERL Regular Common Expressions, v1.48.0 ), used by Notepad++, since its 6.0 version, at the TWO addresses below :

http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_48_0/libs/regex/doc/html/boost_regex/syntax/perl_syntax.html

http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_48_0/libs/regex/doc/html/boost_regex/format/boost_format_syntax.html

The FIRST link explains the syntax, of regular expressions, in the SEARCH part
The SECOND link explains the syntax, of regular expressions, in the REPLACEMENT part

We may, also, look for valuable informations, on the sites, below :

http://www.regular-expressions.info

http://www.rexegg.com

http://perldoc.perl.org/perlre.html

To end with, you may ask, the N++ Community, for infos on any tricky regex that you came across OR for building any tricky regex, for a particular purpose :-))

Yusuf Qureshi

@guy038 you are the best… you just saved my lots of time. Thanks a lot you don’t know how much did you helped me here.

Thankyou
Thankyou
Thankyou