regexp question

[<C.Strobl@dlr.de>]

hello all,

 i want to replace a block beginning with <column_right> and ending with
</column_right>, with a variable number of lines between with another
text block. is that possible with regular expressions and if yes, how?
i don't know how to find an optional number of complete lines.

how can i find this text block with a regular expression?


	<column_right>
		<!-- background attribute options: black, white, grey,
blue, red, green, orange -->
		<feature_block background="orange">
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_image
height="1">spacer_grey.gif</feature_image>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_image
type="intern">projects/gitews/logo_175.gif</feature_image>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_image
height="1">spacer_grey.gif</feature_image>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_text>Work Package 4100</feature_text>
			<feature_text>provided by XYZ</feature_text>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_image
height="5">spacer_grey.gif</feature_image>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_header>Contact:</feature_header>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
			<feature_text></feature_text>
		</feature_block>
	</column_right>


christian