Re: regexp with match over multiple lines

["Andreas Röhler" <andreas.roehler@easy-emacs.de>]

Am 05.05.2011 20:17, schrieb AngusC:
>
>
> Andreas Röhler wrote:
>>
>> Am 05.05.2011 11:05, schrieb AngusC:
>>>
>>> I want to remove all instances of<![CDATA[ ... ]]>   data in a file.  My
>>> regexp works if the start and end tag is on the same line.  But not if
>>> the
>>> end tag is not on this same line.  Is it possible to apply regex across
>>> multiple lines.
>>>
>>> My regex is:<\!\[CDATA\[.*\]\]>   and that works if all on one line.
>>>
>>> What can I do?  Is this where lisp required?
>>>
>>> Angus
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> when dealing with expressions characterized by a start- and end
>> string, quite often a little function is convenient:
>>
>> Below a simplified example:
>>
>> (setq startstring "abc")
>> (setq endstring "def")
>>
>> (defun my-start-end-delete ()
>>     " "
>>     (interactive "*")
>>     (let (beg)
>>       (while (search-forward startstring nil (quote move) 1)
>>         (setq beg (match-beginning 0))
>>         (when (search-forward endstring nil (quote move) 1)
>>           (delete-region beg (match-end 0))))))
>>
>> abcABCDEFdefAAAAAAAAAA ->  AAAAAAAAAA
>>
>>
>
> I am thinking I probably need to learn lisp to have real power.  More regex
> would probably help.
>

For me pleasure started when having some Emacs Lisp.

Before it was promising - afterward great :)

Cheers