regex search replace

[Thomas-Olivier]

What the pattern should look like?
zxy(a|ba|e|cdk) -> (zxya|zxyba|zxye|zxycdk)

[Mark Olson]

@Thomas-Olivier
Assuming you want to match the entirety of any one of those strings, including the leading zxy, you might want to use non-capturing groups for the variable part.

Thus, you’d get (zxy(?:a|ba|e|cdk)). The (?:) part works like normal parentheses, but it doesn’t count as a capture group. You don’t need to do this, because it’s perfectly fine for a capture group to contain other capture groups.

In the future, I’d recommend that you follow the FAQ for formatting your post.

[Thomas-Olivier]

I have this pattern:
air(bag|frame|worthiness)

and I would like to receive:
(airbag|airframe|airworthiness)

[Thomas-Olivier]

@Thomas-Olivier

or:
I have this pattern:
(aff|ch|disrep)air

and I would like to receive:
(affair|chair|disrepair)

[mkupper]

@Thomas-Olivier The answer provided by @Mark-Olson works for all three of your questions here.

If Mark Olson’s answer does not work for you then you will need rephrase the question and add more detail. In the past you would ask questions here but then say the help provided did not work as you are using another editor. If that is still the case then seek help in a forum that supports that other editor. Not all rexex parsers are the same.

[Thomas-Olivier]

It’s just 3 words in abbreviated form for Regex.
I want to get them in full form… 3 full words in Notepad++.
I understand… too difficult.
No suggestions here either.

Thank you for your answer.

[Coises]

If I understand what you want, I do not think it can be done with regular expressions.

You have data of the form:

Prefix(Suffix1|Suffix2|Suffix3)

and you want to use Search/Replace to change that to:

(PrefixSuffix1|PrefixSuffix2|PrefixSuffix3)

and the similar case with multiple prefixes and a single suffix. Is that correct? (I think others are misunderstanding you because the parenthesis and vertical bars make it look like you’re presenting regular expressions, but I believe you mean that is the actual form of your data.)

While I don’t think it can be done, I never want to underestimate the power of @guy038 to do the seemingly impossible with a regular expression.

[Mark Olson]

@Coises
Huh. Yeah, maybe that’s what he’s saying. In that case, there are two regex-replaces that do the job:

1. To convert (aff|ch|disrep|fl|st)air into (affair|chair|disrepair|flair|stair):
   • FIND: (?-s)(\w+)(?=.*\)(\w+)$)|(\w+$)
   • REPLACE WITH: ?3:$1$2
2. To convert her(e|ereafter|on|oine) into (here|herereafter|heron|heroine) is a two-step process:
   1. First convert it into (e|ereafter|on|oine)her with:
      • FIND: (?-s)(^\w+)(.+)
      • REPLACE WITH: $2$1
   2. Convert it into (here|herereafter|heron|heroine) with:
      • FIND: (?-s)(\w+)(?=.*\)(\w+)$)|(\w+$)
      • REPLACE WITH: ?3:$2$1

The second case is a lot harder because there is variable-length lookahead but not variable-length lookbehind.

[guy038]

Hello, @thomas-olivier, @mark-olson, @coises and All,

@thomas-olivier, starting with your two needs below :

air(bag|frame|worthiness)    =>    (airbag|airframe|airworthiness)

(aff|ch|disrep)air           =>    (affair|chair|disrepair)

I succeeded to find out a set of 4/5 consecutive regexes which do the job nicely ! I assume that:

• You first select the complete zone to modify ( for instance, the string air(bag|frame|worthiness) or the string (aff|ch|disrep)air )

• Each time, you must run the five or four set of regexes, below, on this selection ONLY

               Prefix                                                         Suffix

(?-s)(.+)(\(.+?\))                -->    \2\1                                N/A
                                                          
(\W)([\w ]+)                      -->    \1\r\n\2              (\W)([\w ]+)                      -->    \1\r\n\2

[\w ]+(?=(?s).*^([\w ]+))         -->    \1$0                  [\w ]+(?=(?s).*^([\w ]+))         -->    $0\1

\R                                -->    EMPTY                 \R                                -->    EMPTY   

(?s)(.+\)).+                      -->    \1                    (?s)(.+\)).+                      -->    \1      

---

It’s better to include these two bunch of regexes in two macros, respectively called Prefix and Suffix, below :

        <Macro name="Prefix" Ctrl="no" Alt="no" Shift="no" Key="0">
            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="(.+)(\(.+?\))" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\2\1" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="(\W)([\w ]+)" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\1\r\n\2" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="[\w ]+(?=(?s).*^([\w ]+))" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\1$0" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\R" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="(?s)(.+\)).+" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\1" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />
        </Macro>

        <Macro name="Suffix" Ctrl="no" Alt="no" Shift="no" Key="0">
            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="(\W)([\w ]+)" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\1\r\n\2" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="[\w ]+(?=(?s).*^([\w ]+))" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="$0\1" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\R" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />

            <Action type="3" message="1700" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1601" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="(?s)(.+\)).+" />
            <Action type="3" message="1625" wParam="0" lParam="2" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1602" wParam="0" lParam="0" sParam="\1" />
            <Action type="3" message="1702" wParam="0" lParam="130" sParam="" />
            <Action type="3" message="1701" wParam="0" lParam="1609" sParam="" />
        </Macro>

Just place these above macros in your active shortcuts.xml file !

---

So the process is :

• Select a complete zone, defined as PREFIX(aaaa|bbbb|....|yyyy|zzzz) or defined as (aaaa|bbbb|....|yyyy|zzzz)SUFFIX

• Run the appropriate macro ( Prefix or Suffix )

Here you are !!

Notes :

• These macros allows to define multi-words as a single zone

• These macros work whatever the number of items between parentheses !

• If no selection is set, these macros do nothing and text, at caret location, stays unchanged

---

Some examples :

• From this INPUT text :

This is a	first TRY(word1|WORD2|This is a multi word3|word4)    small test

After selecting the string first TRY(word1|WORD2|This is a multi word3|word4) and running the Prefix macro, we get the following OUTPUT text :

This is a	(first TRYword1|first TRYWORD2|first TRYThis is a multi word3|first TRYword4)    small test

• From this INPUT text :

This is a	(word1|WORD2|This is a multi word3|word4)SECOND try    small test

After selecting the string (word1|WORD2|This is a multi word3|word4)SECOND try and running the Suffix macro, we’re left with thuis OUTPUT text :

This is a	(word1SECOND try|WORD2SECOND try|This is a multi word3SECOND try|word4SECOND try)    small test

• Finally, from this INPUT text :

FIRST_(aaaaa|bbbbb|fff ggg hhh iii jjj|yyyyy|zzzzz)_LAST

• First select the zone FIRST_(aaaaa|bbbbb|fff ggg hhh iii jjj|yyyyy|zzzzz) ( do not include the last part _LAST )

• Run the Prefix macro

We obtain this temporary text :

(FIRST_aaaaa|FIRST_bbbbb|FIRST_fff ggg hhh iii jjj|FIRST_yyyyy|FIRST_zzzzz)_LAST

• Now, select all the zone (FIRST_aaaaa|FIRST_bbbbb|FIRST_fff ggg hhh iii jjj|FIRST_yyyyy|FIRST_zzzzz)_LAST

• Run the Suffix macro

Here is our expected OUTPUT text :

(FIRST_aaaaa_LAST|FIRST_bbbbb_LAST|FIRST_fff ggg hhh iii jjj_LAST|FIRST_yyyyy_LAST|FIRST_zzzzz_LAST)

Best Regards,

guy038

[Thomas-Olivier]

Thanks to Mark Olson.
It works flawlessly.

Now I want to test the macro but there are complications.

@guy038
I have 2 shortcuts.xml files.

1. D:\Notepad++\shortcuts.xml
2. D:\Notepad++\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\shortcuts.xml

'1.
<NotepadPlus>
<InternalCommands />
<Macros>
<Macro name=“Trim Trailing and save” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“83”>
<Action type=“2” message=“0” wParam=“42024” lParam=“0” sParam=“” />
<Action type=“2” message=“0” wParam=“41006” lParam=“0” sParam=“” />
</Macro>
</Macros>
<UserDefinedCommands>
<Command name=“Launch in Firefox” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“88”>firefox “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Launch in IE” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“73”>iexplore “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Launch in Chrome” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“82”>chrome “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Launch in Safari” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“65”>safari “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Get php help” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“112”>http://www.php.net/$(CURRENT_WORD)</Command>
<Command name=“Wikipedia Search” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“114”>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=$(CURRENT_WORD)</Command>
<Command name=“Open file in another instance” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“117”>$(NPP_FULL_FILE_PATH) $(CURRENT_WORD) -nosession -multiInst</Command>
<Command name=“Send via Outlook” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“79”>outlook /a “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
</UserDefinedCommands>
<PluginCommands />
<ScintillaKeys />
</NotepadPlus>

comment: there is only closure <PluginCommands />

<NotepadPlus>
<InternalCommands>
<Shortcut id=“47000” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“no” Shift=“no” Key=“0” />
<Shortcut id=“43008” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“no” Shift=“no” Key=“27” />
<Shortcut id=“41003” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“no” Shift=“no” Key=“0” />
</InternalCommands>
<Macros>
<Macro name=“Trim Trailing and save” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“83”>
<Action type=“2” message=“0” wParam=“42024” lParam=“0” sParam=“” />
<Action type=“2” message=“0” wParam=“41006” lParam=“0” sParam=“” />
</Macro>
<Macro name=“skok do pustej linii” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“no” Shift=“no” Key=“112”>
<Action type=“3” message=“1700” wParam=“0” lParam=“0” sParam=“” />
<Action type=“3” message=“1601” wParam=“0” lParam=“0” sParam=“\r\n\r\n” />
<Action type=“3” message=“1625” wParam=“0” lParam=“1” sParam=“” />
<Action type=“3” message=“1702” wParam=“0” lParam=“512” sParam=“” />
<Action type=“3” message=“1701” wParam=“0” lParam=“1” sParam=“” />
</Macro>
</Macros>
<UserDefinedCommands>
<Command name=“Launch in Firefox” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“88”>firefox “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Launch in IE” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“73”>iexplore “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Launch in Chrome” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“82”>chrome “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Launch in Safari” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“65”>safari “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
<Command name=“Get php help” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“112”>http://www.php.net/$(CURRENT_WORD)</Command>
<Command name=“Wikipedia Search” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“114”>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=$(CURRENT_WORD)</Command>
<Command name=“Open file in another instance” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“117”>$(NPP_FULL_FILE_PATH) $(CURRENT_WORD) -nosession -multiInst</Command>
<Command name=“Send via Outlook” Ctrl=“yes” Alt=“yes” Shift=“yes” Key=“79”>outlook /a “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”</Command>
</UserDefinedCommands>
<PluginCommands>
<PluginCommand moduleName=“DSpellCheck.dll” internalID=“0” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“yes” Shift=“no” Key=“78” />
</PluginCommands>
<ScintillaKeys>
<ScintKey ScintID=“2325” menuCmdID=“0” Ctrl=“no” Alt=“no” Shift=“no” Key=“0” />
</ScintillaKeys>
</NotepadPlus>

I haven’t used macro yet.
Unnecessary entries can be deleted.

In which shortcuts.xml should I insert this macro now?

[Alan Kilborn]

@Thomas-Olivier said in regex search replace:

In which shortcuts.xml should I insert this macro now?

Likely the “appdata” one, but to know for sure we’d have to see your “Debug Info” (see the “?” menu).

[Thomas-Olivier]

I put it in appdata and the one from the main D:\Notepad++\shortcuts.xml I removed.

A big thank you to @guy038. It works flawlessly.