RegEx Help with Backreference I think

guy038 · Mar 18, 2025, 3:12 PM

Hello, @robert-or-janet-diebel and All,

Here is my solution which uses 3 consecutive regex replacements. Just follow the road map below !

Open your INPUT text in a new N++ tab
Add a line Chapter 99 at the very end of your file

Thus, we start with this INPUT text :

Chapter 1
Chapter 1:1	Kukuputuka Lizu apwilengako, kah
Chapter 1:2	Ikiye apwilenga naKalunga kukupu
Chapter 1:3	Vyosena vavitengelele muli Ikiye
Chapter 1:4	Muli Ikiye mwapwile Mwono, kaha 
Chapter 1:5	Musana kana wamunyika mumilima, 
Chapter 1:6	Kwapwile mutu vatumine kufuma ku
Chapter 1:7	Ikiye ejile apwenga chinjiho wak
Chapter 1:8	Ikiye kapwile Uze Musanako, oloz
Chapter 1:9	Musana wamuchano apwile nakwiza 
Chapter 1:10	Apwile hakaye, kaha kaye vakaten
Chapter 1:11	Ejile kuvyenyi, kaha vaze venyi 
Chapter 1:12	Oloze veshovo vamutambwile, vaze
Chapter 1:13	vaze vene vásemuwile, keshi kuma
Chapter 1:14	Jino Lizu alilingishile Ivene ku
Chapter 2
\v 1	Halikumbi lyamuchitatu kwapwile chil
\v 2	Yesu nawa vamusanyikile natumbaji tw
\v 3	Omu vinyo yahwile, naye alwezele Yes
\v 4	Kaha Yesu amwambile ngwenyi, Ove mam
\v 5	Naye alwezele vangamba ngwenyi, Ches
\v 6	Jino kuze kwapwile milondo yamalolwa
\v 7	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Zalisenu milo
\v 8	Avambile ngwenyi, Switenumo jino mum
\v 9	Aze meya álumukile kupwa vinyo, omu 
\v 10	nakumwamba ngwenyi, Vatu vosena veji
\v 11	Echi alingile Yesu kuKana, limbo lya
\v 12	Kufuma haze, ashikumukile kuKapelena
\v 13	Chiwanyino chaKuzomboka chavaYuleya 
\v 14	Kaha muTembele, awanyine vaze vapwil
\v 15	Kaha anyotele chikote chajingoji nak
Chapter 3
\v 1	Jino kwapwile mutu wamuli vaFwaliseu
\v 2	Ikiye ejile kuli Yesu naufuku nakwam
\v 3	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
\v 4	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Mutu
\v 5	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
\v 6	Ocho chakusemuwa kumujimba wanyama c
\v 7	Kanda ulikomokela omu ngwakwambanga 
\v 8	Peho yeji kuhuhwanga kweshokwo nayis
\v 9	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Vyum
\v 10	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Ove umuk
\v 11	Mwamuchano vene nangukulweza ngwami,
\v 12	Omu ngunamilweze vyahamavu, kamwafwe
\v 13	Naumwe aya lyehi mwilu wauchi, shina
\v 14	Kaha ngana muze azezwile Mose uze li
\v 15	mangana wose mwamufwelela, apwenga n
...
...
...
Chapter 20
\v 1	Jino halikumbi lyatete muchalumingo,
\v 2	Shikaho alahile nakuya kuli vaShimon
\v 3	Kaha Petulu alovokele nauze kambaji 
\v 4	Vosena vavali vapwile nakulahila ham
\v 5	Kaha hakunongama nakutalamo, amwene 
\v 6	Kaha Shimona Petulu amukavile nakuhe
\v 7	nalilesu lize lyapwile kumutwe wenyi
\v 8	Haze vene nauze kambaji mukwavo áliv
\v 9	Mwomwo haze, Mazu-vasoneka-ajila kan
\v 10	Kaha vaze tumbaji vahilukile kuze va
\v 11	Oloze Maliya emanyine haweluka wachi
\v 12	Kaha amwene vangelo vavali vanavwale
\v 13	Kaha vakiko vamuhulishile ngwavo, Ov
\v 14	Omu áhanjikile ngocho, alumukile kah
\v 15	Yesu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Ove pwevo
Chapter 21
\v 1	Kufuma haze, Yesu alisolwele cheka k
\v 2	omu vapwile hamwe, Shimona Petulu na
\v 3	Shimona Petulu avambile ngwenyi, Nan
\v 4	Jino muze zwalala, Yesu emanyine kun
\v 5	Kaha Yesu avahulishile ngwenyi, Enu 
\v 6	Avambile ngwenyi, Fuchilenu kusali y
\v 7	Kaha uze kambaji vazangile kuli Yesu
\v 8	Vaze vakwavo tumbaji vejile muwato o
\v 9	Kaha omu vakandukile hatunda, vamwen
\v 10	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Nehenuko vais
\v 11	Shikaho Shimona Petulu engilile muwa
\v 12	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Twayenu mulya
\v 13	Yesu ejile, anonele yize mbolo nakuv
\v 14	Aka kakiko jino kamuchitatu Yesu ali
\v 15	Omu vakumishile kulyaula, Yesu ahuli
Chapter 99

Place the cursor/caret at the beginning of the line Chapter 2 ( IMPORTANT )
Open the Replace dialog
Uncheck all box options
FIND (?s-i)^(Chapter \d+\R)(.+?)(?=Chapter \d+$)
REPLACE $1$2$1
Click once on the Replace All button

This replacement adds the title of each chapter right after its contents and we get this temporary OUTPUT :

Chapter 1
Chapter 1:1	Kukuputuka Lizu apwilengako, kah
Chapter 1:2	Ikiye apwilenga naKalunga kukupu
Chapter 1:3	Vyosena vavitengelele muli Ikiye
Chapter 1:4	Muli Ikiye mwapwile Mwono, kaha 
Chapter 1:5	Musana kana wamunyika mumilima, 
Chapter 1:6	Kwapwile mutu vatumine kufuma ku
Chapter 1:7	Ikiye ejile apwenga chinjiho wak
Chapter 1:8	Ikiye kapwile Uze Musanako, oloz
Chapter 1:9	Musana wamuchano apwile nakwiza 
Chapter 1:10	Apwile hakaye, kaha kaye vakaten
Chapter 1:11	Ejile kuvyenyi, kaha vaze venyi 
Chapter 1:12	Oloze veshovo vamutambwile, vaze
Chapter 1:13	vaze vene vásemuwile, keshi kuma
Chapter 1:14	Jino Lizu alilingishile Ivene ku
Chapter 2
\v 1	Halikumbi lyamuchitatu kwapwile chil
\v 2	Yesu nawa vamusanyikile natumbaji tw
\v 3	Omu vinyo yahwile, naye alwezele Yes
\v 4	Kaha Yesu amwambile ngwenyi, Ove mam
\v 5	Naye alwezele vangamba ngwenyi, Ches
\v 6	Jino kuze kwapwile milondo yamalolwa
\v 7	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Zalisenu milo
\v 8	Avambile ngwenyi, Switenumo jino mum
\v 9	Aze meya álumukile kupwa vinyo, omu 
\v 10	nakumwamba ngwenyi, Vatu vosena veji
\v 11	Echi alingile Yesu kuKana, limbo lya
\v 12	Kufuma haze, ashikumukile kuKapelena
\v 13	Chiwanyino chaKuzomboka chavaYuleya 
\v 14	Kaha muTembele, awanyine vaze vapwil
\v 15	Kaha anyotele chikote chajingoji nak
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
\v 1	Jino kwapwile mutu wamuli vaFwaliseu
\v 2	Ikiye ejile kuli Yesu naufuku nakwam
\v 3	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
\v 4	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Mutu
\v 5	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
\v 6	Ocho chakusemuwa kumujimba wanyama c
\v 7	Kanda ulikomokela omu ngwakwambanga 
\v 8	Peho yeji kuhuhwanga kweshokwo nayis
\v 9	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Vyum
\v 10	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Ove umuk
\v 11	Mwamuchano vene nangukulweza ngwami,
\v 12	Omu ngunamilweze vyahamavu, kamwafwe
\v 13	Naumwe aya lyehi mwilu wauchi, shina
\v 14	Kaha ngana muze azezwile Mose uze li
\v 15	mangana wose mwamufwelela, apwenga n
Chapter 3
...
...
...
Chapter 20
\v 1	Jino halikumbi lyatete muchalumingo,
\v 2	Shikaho alahile nakuya kuli vaShimon
\v 3	Kaha Petulu alovokele nauze kambaji 
\v 4	Vosena vavali vapwile nakulahila ham
\v 5	Kaha hakunongama nakutalamo, amwene 
\v 6	Kaha Shimona Petulu amukavile nakuhe
\v 7	nalilesu lize lyapwile kumutwe wenyi
\v 8	Haze vene nauze kambaji mukwavo áliv
\v 9	Mwomwo haze, Mazu-vasoneka-ajila kan
\v 10	Kaha vaze tumbaji vahilukile kuze va
\v 11	Oloze Maliya emanyine haweluka wachi
\v 12	Kaha amwene vangelo vavali vanavwale
\v 13	Kaha vakiko vamuhulishile ngwavo, Ov
\v 14	Omu áhanjikile ngocho, alumukile kah
\v 15	Yesu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Ove pwevo
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
\v 1	Kufuma haze, Yesu alisolwele cheka k
\v 2	omu vapwile hamwe, Shimona Petulu na
\v 3	Shimona Petulu avambile ngwenyi, Nan
\v 4	Jino muze zwalala, Yesu emanyine kun
\v 5	Kaha Yesu avahulishile ngwenyi, Enu 
\v 6	Avambile ngwenyi, Fuchilenu kusali y
\v 7	Kaha uze kambaji vazangile kuli Yesu
\v 8	Vaze vakwavo tumbaji vejile muwato o
\v 9	Kaha omu vakandukile hatunda, vamwen
\v 10	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Nehenuko vais
\v 11	Shikaho Shimona Petulu engilile muwa
\v 12	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Twayenu mulya
\v 13	Yesu ejile, anonele yize mbolo nakuv
\v 14	Aka kakiko jino kamuchitatu Yesu ali
\v 15	Omu vakumishile kulyaula, Yesu ahuli
Chapter 21
Chapter 99

Delete the line Chapter 99 at the very end of the file
Place the cursor/caret at the beginning of the very FIRST line \v ... ( IMPORTANT )
Open the Replace dialog
Uncheck all box options
FIND (?-is)\\v (?=(?s:.+?^(Chapter \d+$)))|^Chapter \d+\R
REPLACE $1:
Click once on the Replace All button

This replacement exchanges each string \v, followed with a space char, by the string Chapter followed with a space char and its number

So, we get this temporary OUTPUT text :

Chapter 1
Chapter 1:1	Kukuputuka Lizu apwilengako, kah
Chapter 1:2	Ikiye apwilenga naKalunga kukupu
Chapter 1:3	Vyosena vavitengelele muli Ikiye
Chapter 1:4	Muli Ikiye mwapwile Mwono, kaha 
Chapter 1:5	Musana kana wamunyika mumilima, 
Chapter 1:6	Kwapwile mutu vatumine kufuma ku
Chapter 1:7	Ikiye ejile apwenga chinjiho wak
Chapter 1:8	Ikiye kapwile Uze Musanako, oloz
Chapter 1:9	Musana wamuchano apwile nakwiza 
Chapter 1:10	Apwile hakaye, kaha kaye vakaten
Chapter 1:11	Ejile kuvyenyi, kaha vaze venyi 
Chapter 1:12	Oloze veshovo vamutambwile, vaze
Chapter 1:13	vaze vene vásemuwile, keshi kuma
Chapter 1:14	Jino Lizu alilingishile Ivene ku
Chapter 2
Chapter 2:1	Halikumbi lyamuchitatu kwapwile chil
Chapter 2:2	Yesu nawa vamusanyikile natumbaji tw
Chapter 2:3	Omu vinyo yahwile, naye alwezele Yes
Chapter 2:4	Kaha Yesu amwambile ngwenyi, Ove mam
Chapter 2:5	Naye alwezele vangamba ngwenyi, Ches
Chapter 2:6	Jino kuze kwapwile milondo yamalolwa
Chapter 2:7	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Zalisenu milo
Chapter 2:8	Avambile ngwenyi, Switenumo jino mum
Chapter 2:9	Aze meya álumukile kupwa vinyo, omu 
Chapter 2:10	nakumwamba ngwenyi, Vatu vosena veji
Chapter 2:11	Echi alingile Yesu kuKana, limbo lya
Chapter 2:12	Kufuma haze, ashikumukile kuKapelena
Chapter 2:13	Chiwanyino chaKuzomboka chavaYuleya 
Chapter 2:14	Kaha muTembele, awanyine vaze vapwil
Chapter 2:15	Kaha anyotele chikote chajingoji nak
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 3:1	Jino kwapwile mutu wamuli vaFwaliseu
Chapter 3:2	Ikiye ejile kuli Yesu naufuku nakwam
Chapter 3:3	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
Chapter 3:4	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Mutu
Chapter 3:5	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
Chapter 3:6	Ocho chakusemuwa kumujimba wanyama c
Chapter 3:7	Kanda ulikomokela omu ngwakwambanga 
Chapter 3:8	Peho yeji kuhuhwanga kweshokwo nayis
Chapter 3:9	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Vyum
Chapter 3:10	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Ove umuk
Chapter 3:11	Mwamuchano vene nangukulweza ngwami,
Chapter 3:12	Omu ngunamilweze vyahamavu, kamwafwe
Chapter 3:13	Naumwe aya lyehi mwilu wauchi, shina
Chapter 3:14	Kaha ngana muze azezwile Mose uze li
Chapter 3:15	mangana wose mwamufwelela, apwenga n
Chapter 3
...
...
...
Chapter 20
Chapter 20:1	Jino halikumbi lyatete muchalumingo,
Chapter 20:2	Shikaho alahile nakuya kuli vaShimon
Chapter 20:3	Kaha Petulu alovokele nauze kambaji 
Chapter 20:4	Vosena vavali vapwile nakulahila ham
Chapter 20:5	Kaha hakunongama nakutalamo, amwene 
Chapter 20:6	Kaha Shimona Petulu amukavile nakuhe
Chapter 20:7	nalilesu lize lyapwile kumutwe wenyi
Chapter 20:8	Haze vene nauze kambaji mukwavo áliv
Chapter 20:9	Mwomwo haze, Mazu-vasoneka-ajila kan
Chapter 20:10	Kaha vaze tumbaji vahilukile kuze va
Chapter 20:11	Oloze Maliya emanyine haweluka wachi
Chapter 20:12	Kaha amwene vangelo vavali vanavwale
Chapter 20:13	Kaha vakiko vamuhulishile ngwavo, Ov
Chapter 20:14	Omu áhanjikile ngocho, alumukile kah
Chapter 20:15	Yesu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Ove pwevo
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 21:1	Kufuma haze, Yesu alisolwele cheka k
Chapter 21:2	omu vapwile hamwe, Shimona Petulu na
Chapter 21:3	Shimona Petulu avambile ngwenyi, Nan
Chapter 21:4	Jino muze zwalala, Yesu emanyine kun
Chapter 21:5	Kaha Yesu avahulishile ngwenyi, Enu 
Chapter 21:6	Avambile ngwenyi, Fuchilenu kusali y
Chapter 21:7	Kaha uze kambaji vazangile kuli Yesu
Chapter 21:8	Vaze vakwavo tumbaji vejile muwato o
Chapter 21:9	Kaha omu vakandukile hatunda, vamwen
Chapter 21:10	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Nehenuko vais
Chapter 21:11	Shikaho Shimona Petulu engilile muwa
Chapter 21:12	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Twayenu mulya
Chapter 21:13	Yesu ejile, anonele yize mbolo nakuv
Chapter 21:14	Aka kakiko jino kamuchitatu Yesu ali
Chapter 21:15	Omu vakumishile kulyaula, Yesu ahuli
Chapter 21

Place the caret at the very beginning of your file :
Open the Replace dialog
Uncheck all box options
FIND ^Chapter \d+\R(?=Chapter \d+$)|^Chapter \d+\Z
REPLACE Leave EMPTY
Click once on the Replace All button

This replacement deletes any string Chapter ## IF followed by an other string Chapter ## as well as the very last string Chapter 21

And we get our expected OUTPUT text :

Chapter 1
Chapter 1:1	Kukuputuka Lizu apwilengako, kah
Chapter 1:2	Ikiye apwilenga naKalunga kukupu
Chapter 1:3	Vyosena vavitengelele muli Ikiye
Chapter 1:4	Muli Ikiye mwapwile Mwono, kaha 
Chapter 1:5	Musana kana wamunyika mumilima, 
Chapter 1:6	Kwapwile mutu vatumine kufuma ku
Chapter 1:7	Ikiye ejile apwenga chinjiho wak
Chapter 1:8	Ikiye kapwile Uze Musanako, oloz
Chapter 1:9	Musana wamuchano apwile nakwiza 
Chapter 1:10	Apwile hakaye, kaha kaye vakaten
Chapter 1:11	Ejile kuvyenyi, kaha vaze venyi 
Chapter 1:12	Oloze veshovo vamutambwile, vaze
Chapter 1:13	vaze vene vásemuwile, keshi kuma
Chapter 1:14	Jino Lizu alilingishile Ivene ku
Chapter 2
Chapter 2:1	Halikumbi lyamuchitatu kwapwile chil
Chapter 2:2	Yesu nawa vamusanyikile natumbaji tw
Chapter 2:3	Omu vinyo yahwile, naye alwezele Yes
Chapter 2:4	Kaha Yesu amwambile ngwenyi, Ove mam
Chapter 2:5	Naye alwezele vangamba ngwenyi, Ches
Chapter 2:6	Jino kuze kwapwile milondo yamalolwa
Chapter 2:7	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Zalisenu milo
Chapter 2:8	Avambile ngwenyi, Switenumo jino mum
Chapter 2:9	Aze meya álumukile kupwa vinyo, omu 
Chapter 2:10	nakumwamba ngwenyi, Vatu vosena veji
Chapter 2:11	Echi alingile Yesu kuKana, limbo lya
Chapter 2:12	Kufuma haze, ashikumukile kuKapelena
Chapter 2:13	Chiwanyino chaKuzomboka chavaYuleya 
Chapter 2:14	Kaha muTembele, awanyine vaze vapwil
Chapter 2:15	Kaha anyotele chikote chajingoji nak
Chapter 3
Chapter 3:1	Jino kwapwile mutu wamuli vaFwaliseu
Chapter 3:2	Ikiye ejile kuli Yesu naufuku nakwam
Chapter 3:3	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
Chapter 3:4	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Mutu
Chapter 3:5	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Mwamucha
Chapter 3:6	Ocho chakusemuwa kumujimba wanyama c
Chapter 3:7	Kanda ulikomokela omu ngwakwambanga 
Chapter 3:8	Peho yeji kuhuhwanga kweshokwo nayis
Chapter 3:9	Nyikotemu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Vyum
Chapter 3:10	Yesu amukumbulwile ngwenyi, Ove umuk
Chapter 3:11	Mwamuchano vene nangukulweza ngwami,
Chapter 3:12	Omu ngunamilweze vyahamavu, kamwafwe
Chapter 3:13	Naumwe aya lyehi mwilu wauchi, shina
Chapter 3:14	Kaha ngana muze azezwile Mose uze li
Chapter 3:15	mangana wose mwamufwelela, apwenga n
...
...
...
Chapter 20
Chapter 20:1	Jino halikumbi lyatete muchalumingo,
Chapter 20:2	Shikaho alahile nakuya kuli vaShimon
Chapter 20:3	Kaha Petulu alovokele nauze kambaji 
Chapter 20:4	Vosena vavali vapwile nakulahila ham
Chapter 20:5	Kaha hakunongama nakutalamo, amwene 
Chapter 20:6	Kaha Shimona Petulu amukavile nakuhe
Chapter 20:7	nalilesu lize lyapwile kumutwe wenyi
Chapter 20:8	Haze vene nauze kambaji mukwavo áliv
Chapter 20:9	Mwomwo haze, Mazu-vasoneka-ajila kan
Chapter 20:10	Kaha vaze tumbaji vahilukile kuze va
Chapter 20:11	Oloze Maliya emanyine haweluka wachi
Chapter 20:12	Kaha amwene vangelo vavali vanavwale
Chapter 20:13	Kaha vakiko vamuhulishile ngwavo, Ov
Chapter 20:14	Omu áhanjikile ngocho, alumukile kah
Chapter 20:15	Yesu amuhulishile ngwenyi, Ove pwevo
Chapter 21
Chapter 21:1	Kufuma haze, Yesu alisolwele cheka k
Chapter 21:2	omu vapwile hamwe, Shimona Petulu na
Chapter 21:3	Shimona Petulu avambile ngwenyi, Nan
Chapter 21:4	Jino muze zwalala, Yesu emanyine kun
Chapter 21:5	Kaha Yesu avahulishile ngwenyi, Enu 
Chapter 21:6	Avambile ngwenyi, Fuchilenu kusali y
Chapter 21:7	Kaha uze kambaji vazangile kuli Yesu
Chapter 21:8	Vaze vakwavo tumbaji vejile muwato o
Chapter 21:9	Kaha omu vakandukile hatunda, vamwen
Chapter 21:10	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Nehenuko vais
Chapter 21:11	Shikaho Shimona Petulu engilile muwa
Chapter 21:12	Yesu avambile ngwenyi, Twayenu mulya
Chapter 21:13	Yesu ejile, anonele yize mbolo nakuv
Chapter 21:14	Aka kakiko jino kamuchitatu Yesu ali
Chapter 21:15	Omu vakumishile kulyaula, Yesu ahuli

Best Regards,

guy038

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 5:43 PM

@guy038 Many and much thanx.
I will give it a whirl!

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 6:21 PM

@guy038
Getting a colon before Chapters.
I can remove by another RegEx.
But if you can help me fix it in your code, that would be great.

Chapter 3:15	mangana wose mwamufwelela, apwenga n
:Chapter 4

Terry R · Mar 18, 2025, 6:27 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel said in RegEx Help with Backreference I think:

I think a RegEx could do this, but I need help.

This question is almost an exact match for the post #26693 in that it looks like it needs a lookbehind. Of course lookbehinds cannot be variable length so it can’t be achieved.

As in that post, my solution is to reverse the lines, then the lookbehind becomes a lookahead and can easily be achieved. Lastly the lines are again reversed. These 3 steps can all be recorded as a macro if this is a repeated process.

So the steps are:

Use Reverse Line Order which is under Edit menu, then Line Operations.
Using the Replace function we have (Have the cursor in the first line of the file):
Find What:(?-s)^\\v (?=(.+\R)+?(Chapter \d+))
Replace With:${2}:
Select Replace All
Use Reverse Line Order which is under Edit menu, then Line Operations.

Terry

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 6:40 PM

@Terry-R
Thanx very much!

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 6:54 PM

@Terry-R
That is amazing!
How do I “reverse line order” in a macro?
Or do I need to have more than one macro, and reverse in between manually?

Terry R · Mar 18, 2025, 7:00 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel said in RegEx Help with Backreference I think:

How do I “reverse line order” in a macro?

In Notepad++ a macro is essentially all the keystrokes (and mouse selections) together with keyboard input recorded. Once saved (and a shortcut can be assigned to it as well), it can be played back. The playing back just replays those keystrokes and mouse selections etc. So yes the reverse line order can also be recorded.

The online manual has the detail and can explain it much better than I can. You find the link from the ? menu.

Terry

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 7:06 PM

@Terry-R
As I am changing just under 1300 chapters with a lot more than 15 verses, this will save me many hours.
Your help is much appreciated!
I will indeed build a macro.

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 7:39 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel
Macro worked great.
Thanx again!

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 8:41 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel
One more thing please.
The “Chapter” is actually a book name.
It is the first word in the file. I need that to be read into a variable and put in the beginning of the line instead of the word “Chapter”

I am working on it, but if you can help that would be appreciated.

Terry R · Mar 18, 2025, 9:02 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel said in RegEx Help with Backreference I think:

It is the first word in the file. I need that to be read into a variable and put in the beginning of the line instead of the word “Chapter”

Well, obviously some examples would be extremely helpful, otherwise I’m just guessing.

And my first guess would be to have this as the regex:
(?-s)^\\v (?=(.+\R)+?(.+?\d+$))
You will see I’ve changed the Chapter<space>\d+ to .+?\d+$. The .+? means to consume characters in a non-greedy fashion and stop when a digit appears. Then the rest says to also consume digits (as many as occurs together) and stop at the end of the line ($). So if there are spaces behind the digits it won’t work. Without examples I can’t be sure.

Terry

PS you said first word in the file. So do you really mean it’s the word at the start of each group OR truly ONLY the first line in the file. If ONLY the first line then that is an entirely different sort of regex. Examples with say 2-4 groups of verses. And AGAIN include 2 code boxes, 1st being existing data and 2nd being how you want it to look.

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 9:04 PM

@Terry-R Thanx.
I need the first word in this file to be used for all “\v”
The next file will be a different book name and so needs to read the first word, and use it.

Samu 1
\v 1:1	Kukuputuka Lizu apwilengako, kah
\v 1:2	Ikiye apwilenga naKalunga kukupu
\v 1:3	Vyosena vavitengelele muli Ikiye
\v 1:4	Muli Ikiye mwapwile Mwono, kaha 
\v 1:5	Musana kana wamunyika mumilima, 
\v 1:6	Kwapwile mutu vatumine kufuma ku
\v 1:7	Ikiye ejile apwenga chinjiho wak
\v 1:8	Ikiye kapwile Uze Musanako, oloz
\v 1:9	Musana wamuchano apwile nakwiza 
\v 1:10	Apwile hakaye, kaha kaye vakaten
\v 1:11	Ejile kuvyenyi, kaha vaze venyi 
\v 1:12	Oloze veshovo vamutambwile, vaze
\v 1:13	vaze vene vásemuwile, keshi kuma
\v 1:14	Jino Lizu alilingishile Ivene ku
Samu 2
\v 1	Halikumbi lyamuchitatu kwapwile chil
\v 2	Yesu nawa vamusanyikile natumbaji tw
\v 3	Omu vinyo yahwile, naye alwezele Yes

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 9:07 PM

@Terry-R It is the first word, but is repeated for each Chapter

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 18, 2025, 9:11 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel
Thanx!
That appears to have worked.
Wishing you a great day.

guy038 · Mar 19, 2025, 3:11 PM

Hi, @robert-or-janet-diebel, @terry-r and All,

Robert, I’m really sorry because I did a mistake regarding my second and main regex replacement : I mixed two different tests :-((

The correct regex S/R was simply :

FIND (?-is)\\v (?=(?s:.+?^(Chapter \d+$)))
REPLACE $1:

But, I agree that the @terry-r’s use of the Edit > Line Operations > Reverse Line Order, in order to get the Chapter name after its contents, is quite clever !

So, if we use the @terry-r’s method and taking in account your further posts, the task is really simplified :

Run an Edit > Line Operations > Reverse Line order action
Perform the following regex S/R
- FIND (?-is)\\v (?=(?s:.+?^(\u[\u\l -]+ \d+$)))
- REPLACE $1:
Run again an Edit > Line Operations > Reverse Line order action

I used the regex (?-i)\u[\u\l -]+ for the book’s name, just in case you have this kind of title : My very-Best-Novel !

BR

guy038

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 19, 2025, 3:11 PM

@guy038 Thanx very much. I am still working on this as the total project requires more changes.

All help is appreciated.
I am trying to do what I can myself, but am in over my head here.

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 19, 2025, 3:24 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel
Adds Book name fine, but all chapters show as “1”

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 19, 2025, 3:35 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel
Could be my fault. I am still testing

Terry R · Mar 19, 2025, 5:17 PM

@Robert-Or-Janet-Diebel
Your last few posts aren’t referencing anybody. The @name you use is how to “speak” to a particular poster.

The posts are also lacking in detail so it is difficult to know what your problem is.

Suggest adding some examples showing before and after the change and what regex you used.

Terry

Robert Or Janet Diebel · Mar 19, 2025, 5:52 PM

@Terry-R
I have, a number of times, needed to grab a Value (usually a book name in this instance)
Then I need to fit it into a search as a parameter (maybe as a group) to be used in the Replace.

I believe you did that, but I am not sure how.
Could you expand a bit one the change you did from “Chapter” to BookName?