From: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan@gmail.com>
To: Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net>
Cc: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org
Subject: Re: Query replace regex with 2 alternatives
Date: Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:41:25 +0530 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <87txrx8vwy.fsf@gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <icd2ylg5zz.fsf@home.home> (Dan Espen's message of "Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:51:44 -0500")
Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> writes:
> Could use some help on query/replace/regex.
>
> I have an html file full of < and >.
> I want to replace only some of the pairs with "[" and "]".
>
> I figured out the match string:
>
> "\\(<\\|>\\)
>
> (typed as)
>
> "\(<\|>\)
>
> but when it comes to the replacement, I'm not clear on how to say,
> first match gets [ and second match gets ].
> I believe emacs can do it but I don't see it documented.
> I see references to \1 \2 but not in the replace string.
rx-to-string is the easiest way to build such an regexp.
C-h f rx
Do this
1. M-x ielm RET
2. Copy the below regexp to the prompt
(rx-to-string '(and (group-n 1 "<")
(group-n 2 (minimal-match
(zero-or-more anything)))
(group-n 3 ">")))
Here is a sample session.
,----
| ELISP> (rx-to-string '(and (group-n 1 "<")
| (group-n 2 (minimal-match
| (zero-or-more anything)))
| (group-n 3 ">")))
| "\\(?:\\(?1:<\\)\\(?2:\\(?:.\\|\n\\)*?\\)\\(?3:>\\)\\)"
`----
3. C-x b file.html
4. M-x reb-change-syntax RET read RET
5. M-x re-builder RET
6. Copy paste the above regexp in to *RE-Builder* buffer
7. You will see the various components highlighted in HTML buffer
8. M-x reb-change-syntax RET string RET
9. You will see the above regexp changed from read syntax to string
syntax. Something like. (Yes, the regexp is on two lines)
"\(?:\(?1:<\)\(?2:\(?:.\|
\)*?\)\(?3:>\)\)"
10. C-M-%
Copy the above regexp without surrounding double quotes RET
<\2> RET
You are done.
--
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2012-12-07 20:11 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 9+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2012-12-07 16:51 Query replace regex with 2 alternatives Dan Espen
2012-12-07 18:59 ` Barry Margolin
2012-12-07 20:06 ` Dan Espen
2012-12-07 20:19 ` Tassilo Horn
[not found] ` <mailman.14801.1354911562.855.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2012-12-07 21:32 ` Dan Espen
2012-12-08 5:31 ` Barry Margolin
2012-12-07 20:11 ` Jambunathan K [this message]
[not found] ` <mailman.14799.1354910918.855.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>
2012-12-08 22:07 ` WJ
2012-12-08 23:03 ` William Gardella
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