Having notepad++ autohighlight certain values when they are non zero

Matthew Millard · Apr 6, 2017, 5:50 PM

I use Notepad ++ to analyze error logs. One piece of information i look for is clipping duration greater than zero. It indicates the microphone volume needs adjusted. I appears in the log as so:

SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 |** cD 0** | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]

I have bolded the cD part for emphasis.

Here is my question, how can I have notepad++ highlight any non zero value when it occurs next to the letters cD.

I am not a programmer, BTW. Your explanation might need to be relatively non technical for me to understand.

guy038 · Apr 6, 2017, 10:19 PM

Hello, @matthew-millard,

Not too difficult with the right regular expression !

So, using, for instance, the example text, below :

SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 | cD 23 | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]
SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 | cD 0 | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]
SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 | cD 1 | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]
SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 | cD 127 | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]
SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 | cD 0 | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]
SigQual[ uD 1633 | Nd 0 | sN 16 | cD 1234 | wF 0x00 | aF 0x00 | dA 0.0 [63561] | sA 14.6 [5882] | Rt D ]

Open the Find dialog ( CTRL + F )
In the Find what: zone, type in the regular expression, below :

(?-i)(?<= cD )(?!0 )\d+

Check the Wrap around option
Select the Regular expression serach mode ( IMPORTANT )
Click on the Find Next button

=> You should get the next number, different from 0, located after the string cD, in that exact case. Et voilà !! ( only the second and fifth lines will be skipped ! )

Notes :

The first part (?-i) forces the regex engine to search, in a sensitive way ( = non-insensitive )
The final part \d+ is the real string to search for, that is to say, a digit ( \d ), repeated one or more times ( + ) ( idem a number ! )
But, this number will be matched by the regex engine, IF and ONlY IF the two following conditions are TRUE :
- Before the number location, the string " cD ", with two spaces and without doubles quotes, DO exist ( positive look-behind syntax : (?<= cD ) )
- At number location, the string "0 ", with one space and without doubles quotes, does NOT exist ( negative look-ahead syntax : (?!0 ) )

Best Regards,

guy038