Find and Replace a specific number but not when followed by a specific character

Jesper Bødewadt Møller

I need to replace a number in different strings.
eks. #ioStatusInput3.%X31
Like replace 3 with 4 but not replace any given number in the “.%X31” only if there is any chracter in front the “3” and not replace the .%X31.
some times .%X31 have 3 in it and some times not.

Hope some one can help out.
Jesper

Alexandra Tunsoiu

@Jesper-Bødewadt-Møller Hi! If you want to replace 3 with 4 whitout affecting .%X31 in this example the solution would be:

Find what: ([#][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z][A-Z])([0-9])
Replace with: \14

If this doesn’t help you, i don’t know, try to be more specific and post more examples of strings you need to replace.

Kind regards!

guy038

Hi, @Jesper-Bødewadt-Møller,

I would use this strategy :

If we find some digits, right after the syntax %X, just rewrite this NON wanted block, as it !
If we find other 3 digits elsewhere ( which are good candidates ), replace each one with a 4 digit

This simple way avoid us to verify where a 3 digit is found ( inside a %X... block or elsewhere :-))

So, open the Replace dialog ( Ctrl + H )

SEARCH (?-i)%X\d+|(3)

REPLACE ?{1}4:$0

OPTIONS Wrap around and Regular expression ticked

ACTION Click on the Replace All button

For instance, assuming the initial text below :

abc3.%X31 def abc3%X11223def abc3%X773777.3def abc3%X31 333def abc3% X321 333def abc3%X 321 333def abc333.%X333333.333def

It would be changed into :

abc4.%X31 def abc4%X11223def abc4%X773777.4def abc4%X31 444def abc4% X421 444def abc4%X 421 444def abc444.%X333333.444def

Remark :

Just note that the 3 digits are replaced by a 4 digit , in the parts % X321 and %X 321, as they are not exactly of the form %Xdigitdigit…digit !!

Notes :

The modifier (?-i) forces the search to be NON-insensitive to case ( so sensitive ! )
Then the regex engine looks for, either :
- The exact string %X, followed by, at least, one digit ( %X\d+ )
- Any digit 3, stored as group 1, because of the surrounding parentheses ( (3) )
In replacement :
- If group 1 exists ( second alternative ), we replace with a single 4 digit ( part before the colon )
- ELSE, we just rewrite the entire matched string %X##### ( regex $0 , after the colon )

Best Regards,

guy038