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conditional find+replace using regex

voltaire
New User

Feb 27, 2005, 5:00 AM

Post #1 of 5 (2021 views)

conditional find+replace using regex	Can't Post

Is there a one-line regex way to specify a replacement in a string if certain conditions need to be met...

eg

if i had the string
a b a b a b <tag> a b a b </tag> a b <tag> a b a b </tag> a b
and i wanted to replace all 'a' with 'z' iff they are enclosed within a <tag></tag> pair (and i dont mean the first opening tag and the last closing tag)
ie
a b a b a b <tag> z b z b </tag> a b <tag> z b z b </tag> a b

There are ways to do it using several lines of string manipulation, but i was wondering if there are some neat regex tricks to specify the condition neatly?

eg
hoping for a solution of the form
$string =~ s/x/y/
where x and y describe/fulfill the condition (if it's even possible)

many thanks

MrPJ
User

Feb 27, 2005, 9:08 AM

Post #2 of 5 (2017 views)

Re: [voltaire] conditional find+replace using regex [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's one way...

Code

$string =~ s|<tag>(.+?)</tag>|my $temp = $1; $temp =~ tr/a/z/; $temp;|ge;

KevinR
Veteran

Feb 27, 2005, 12:08 PM

Post #3 of 5 (2014 views)

Re: [MrPJ] conditional find+replace using regex [In reply to]	Can't Post

if you want the tags to remain in the string:

Code

$test =~ s|<tag>(.+?)</tag>|my $temp = $1; $temp =~ tr/a/z/; "<tag>$temp</tag>";|ge;

if not, MrPJ's suggestion works perfect! Cool

-------------------------------------------------

voltaire
New User

Feb 27, 2005, 12:35 PM

Post #4 of 5 (2013 views)

Re: [KevinR] conditional find+replace using regex [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks people.

i appreciate it

MrPJ
User

Feb 27, 2005, 2:59 PM

Post #5 of 5 (2010 views)

Re: [KevinR] conditional find+replace using regex [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

if you want the tags to remain in the string:

Good spot =)

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