<![CDATA[Search++ (\W)'(\w) regex replace failure]]>@Coises

As noted in my post earlier today about an instance of regex replacement failure via Notepad++’s native find/replace functionality, I tried doing the same regex replacement in Search++, but got some bizarre results. As stated in my other post, I was doing this in ANSI text, using FIND WHAT string (\W)'(\w) and REPLACE WITH string \1’\2. My initial text:

this
'Cos I am
that

this
'Round and 'round
that

Considering your explanation to me in the other thread, I’m assuming my utilization of the same regex via your plugin may have been doomed to failure anyway, but… results after stepping through (one replacement at a time), first attempt:

this
?Cos I am
that

this
-?-ound and-?-ound
that

Second attempt:

this
-?-os I am
that

this
?Round and-?-ound
that

Any idea what’s up with that?

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/27623/search-w-w-regex-replace-failureRSS for NodeWed, 05 Aug 2026 21:56:55 GMTWed, 05 Aug 2026 20:12:10 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Search++ (\W)'(\w) regex replace failure on Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:42:28 GMT]]>

@M-Andre-Z-Eckenrode said:

Considering your explanation to me in the other thread, I’m assuming my utilization of the same regex via your plugin may have been doomed to failure anyway, but… results after stepping through (one replacement at a time), first attempt

Those are strange results, which I can’t reproduce. Your find and replace combination works for all three occurrences on my installation.

Looking at your debug info in the other thread, I see that you have a long list of plugins. I know this is a pain, but would you try:

  • Download a fresh, portable copy of Notepad++ (v8.9.7, 32 bit as per your debug info) and unzip that to a folder.
  • Download Search++ (v06.3.1, 32 bit), unzip that to a folder and rename the folder Search++.
  • Move the Search++ folder into the plugins folder within the portable Notepad++ folder.
  • Double-click notepad++.exe in the portable Notepad++ folder.

and try your test with that copy of Notepad++?

That would at least tell us whether there is something about your system that is different than mine, or something about your plugins or your Notepad++ configuration that is different.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/106024https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/106024Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:42:28 GMT