A search function that skip some characters

A search function that skip some characters

[Martin Usbach]

Hello,
how can I implement a search function that skip some character (like these 
characters { '.', ',' , '2'}). So if I search "text" the function should not 
only find  "text" but also "tex.t", "t.e,xt.2.", "te2xt", "te,,,x.2.t" and so 
on.

Is it too difficult?

Martin

Re: A search function that skip some characters

[Tekk]

I don't think it'd be too bad, but I can't give you the code off the top 
of my head

On Tue, 6 Dec 2011, Martin Usbach wrote:

> Hello,
> how can I implement a search function that skip some character (like these
> characters { '.', ',' , '2'}). So if I search "text" the function should not
> only find  "text" but also "tex.t", "t.e,xt.2.", "te2xt", "te,,,x.2.t" and so
> on.
>
> Is it too difficult?
>
> Martin
>
>
>

Re: A search function that skip some characters

[Stefan Monnier]

> how can I implement a search function that skip some character (like
> these  characters { '.', ',' , '2'}).  So if I search "text" the
> function should not  only find  "text" but also "tex.t", "t.e,xt.2.",
> "te2xt", "te,,,x.2.t" and so on.

I don't think Emacs has any special support for that.

> Is it too difficult?

I guess it depends on the specifics and on your motivation
and expertise.  You can do

    (re-search-forward (mapconcat (lambda (c) (regexp-quote (string c)))
                                  "text" "[.,2]*"))

which may work, but if "text" is long and/or includes occurrences of
",", "." or "2", this approach may fail miserably.  Also if you need
"text" to be a regular expression, then it gets more interesting.

So if that's not good enough, you'll probably have to do the search "by
hand" without using Emacs's builtin search functionality.


        Stefan

Re: A search function that skip some characters

[martin-u]

Well, I have now the function mfun:

(defun mfun (&optional regexp-p no-recursive-edit) ;I've just copied it from
another function
  (interactive "P\n")
  (setq str (read-from-minibuffer
        "Mysearch: "))
  (insert-before-markers
   (mapconcat (lambda (c) (regexp-quote (string c))) str "[.,2]*"))
  )

I put it into my dot.emacs and it works (but badly). So, if I want to find
the all the "t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t" regexps, I call M-x mfun. Then I type
"text" into the minibuffer. Then mfun put into the normal buffer
"t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t" that I have to copy. Then I have to call
isearch-forward-regexp and put in it minibuffer the copied regexp
"t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t". As you see this not a good solution.

Calling "isearch-forward-regexp" from mfun is not difficult. The problem is
that I can't put the REGEXP of "mapconcat" into the minibuffer of
isearch-forward-regexp.

For this I need some help. Or maybe you have another idea?
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RE: A search function that skip some characters

[Drew Adams]

> (defun mfun (&optional regexp-p no-recursive-edit)
>   (interactive "P\n")

\n serves no purpose here.
And you don't use arg NO-RECURSIVE-EDIT.

>   (setq str (read-from-minibuffer "Mysearch: "))
>   (insert-before-markers
>    (mapconcat (lambda (c)
>                 (regexp-quote (string c)))
>               str "[.,2]*")))
> 
> I put it into my dot.emacs and it works (but badly). So, if I 
> want to find the all the "t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t" regexps, I
> call M-x mfun. Then I type "text" into the minibuffer. Then
> mfun put into the normal buffer "t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t" that
> I have to copy. Then I have to call isearch-forward-regexp
> and put in it minibuffer the copied regexp
> "t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t". As you see this not a good solution.
> 
> Calling "isearch-forward-regexp" from mfun is not difficult. 
> The problem is that I can't put the REGEXP of "mapconcat" 
> into the minibuffer of isearch-forward-regexp.
> 
> For this I need some help. Or maybe you have another idea?

1. I already gave you another idea, off list.  What was wrong with it?

Put "[[:word:].,2]+" in a register or variable, and insert it after `M-e' during
isearch.

Or define a command to insert it after `M-e':

(defun foo () (interactive) (insert "[[:word:].,2]+"))
(define-key minibuffer-local-isearch-map (kbd "M-q") 'foo)

C-M-s M-e M-q C-s


2. FYI - A better mailing list for this kind of topic (a question about how to
use Emacs or Emacs Lisp) is help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org.

HTH.

RE: A search function that skip some characters

[martin-u]

> 1. I already gave you another idea, off list.  What was wrong with it?
This was my answer:
Hello,
"w[.,X]*o[.,X]*r[.,X]d" was just an example. It could be any other "text".
Everytime I give a text like "abc" or "xyz" (as argument for the function)
the special search function should
search "a[.,X]*b[.,X]*c[.,X]*" or "x[.,X]*y[.,X]*z[.,X]*".
But anyway, I have found a solution in your answer. 
This was my help:
> (defun foo () (interactive) (insert "[[:word:].,2]+"))
> (define-key minibuffer-local-isearch-map (kbd "M-q") 'foo)

Here's the function
(defun my-search ()
(interactive)
(move-beginning-line 1)
(kill-line)
(setq g (car kill-ring))
(insert (mapconcat (lambda (c) (regexp-quote (string c)))
                                  g "[.,2]*")))
and here's the keybinding:
(define-key minibuffer-local-isearch-map (kbd "M-q") 'my-search) 

After C-M-S M-e I write the text I'm searching "text" and then I type M-q. I
get what I want "t[,.2]*e[,.2]*x[,.2]*t".
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