Regexp replace to to match a string, but not superstring
Let's say I want to replace the string "Vector" by "VectorBase", but there are existing instances of "VectorBase". So I would like to omit "VectorBase". What is an elegant way to achieve this?
An easy way is to do ignore the condition and do the replacement and at the end replace all instances of BaseBase by Base. I'm looking for a better way to achieve this.
regular-expressions replace query-replace
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
add a comment |
Let's say I want to replace the string "Vector" by "VectorBase", but there are existing instances of "VectorBase". So I would like to omit "VectorBase". What is an elegant way to achieve this?
An easy way is to do ignore the condition and do the replacement and at the end replace all instances of BaseBase by Base. I'm looking for a better way to achieve this.
regular-expressions replace query-replace
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
add a comment |
Let's say I want to replace the string "Vector" by "VectorBase", but there are existing instances of "VectorBase". So I would like to omit "VectorBase". What is an elegant way to achieve this?
An easy way is to do ignore the condition and do the replacement and at the end replace all instances of BaseBase by Base. I'm looking for a better way to achieve this.
regular-expressions replace query-replace
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
Let's say I want to replace the string "Vector" by "VectorBase", but there are existing instances of "VectorBase". So I would like to omit "VectorBase". What is an elegant way to achieve this?
An easy way is to do ignore the condition and do the replacement and at the end replace all instances of BaseBase by Base. I'm looking for a better way to achieve this.
regular-expressions replace query-replace
regular-expressions replace query-replace
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
edited 2 hours ago
Drew
47.4k462104
47.4k462104
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
asked 3 hours ago
fermesommefermesomme
195110
195110
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Try bVectorb. The b construct matches the empty string, but only at the beginning and end of a word (what is a "word" depends on the buffer's syntax table however: it should work in most cases, but there might be corner cases that are problematic.)
See Backslash Constructs in Regular Expressions for more information.
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
add a comment |
One simple, very old-school way is to do multiple replacement passes:
Replace
VectorBaseby, sayAAAA(some string that you're sure doesn't already occur somewhere).Replace
VectorbyVectorBase.Replace
AAAAbyVectorBase.
This works for replace-all and query-replace. It's pretty fail-safe and doesn't require any complex matching or fancy replacement regexp.
However: It's important that you first look for any occurrences of the string you're thinking of using as the temporary replacement (e.g. AAAA). If there are already such occurrences then choose a different string. ;-)
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
add a comment |
If you need to replace every instance except those specifically followed by some text, your regex engine MAY support "look around" functions. In that case, you could do this: replace Vector(?!Base) with VectorBase which would have the following result:
Vector
VectorFoo
VectorBase
would be converted to
VectorBase
VectorBaseFoo
VectorBase
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Try bVectorb. The b construct matches the empty string, but only at the beginning and end of a word (what is a "word" depends on the buffer's syntax table however: it should work in most cases, but there might be corner cases that are problematic.)
See Backslash Constructs in Regular Expressions for more information.
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
add a comment |
Try bVectorb. The b construct matches the empty string, but only at the beginning and end of a word (what is a "word" depends on the buffer's syntax table however: it should work in most cases, but there might be corner cases that are problematic.)
See Backslash Constructs in Regular Expressions for more information.
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
add a comment |
Try bVectorb. The b construct matches the empty string, but only at the beginning and end of a word (what is a "word" depends on the buffer's syntax table however: it should work in most cases, but there might be corner cases that are problematic.)
See Backslash Constructs in Regular Expressions for more information.
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
Try bVectorb. The b construct matches the empty string, but only at the beginning and end of a word (what is a "word" depends on the buffer's syntax table however: it should work in most cases, but there might be corner cases that are problematic.)
See Backslash Constructs in Regular Expressions for more information.
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
edited 1 hour ago
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
answered 3 hours ago
NickDNickD
2,4211312
2,4211312
add a comment |
add a comment |
One simple, very old-school way is to do multiple replacement passes:
Replace
VectorBaseby, sayAAAA(some string that you're sure doesn't already occur somewhere).Replace
VectorbyVectorBase.Replace
AAAAbyVectorBase.
This works for replace-all and query-replace. It's pretty fail-safe and doesn't require any complex matching or fancy replacement regexp.
However: It's important that you first look for any occurrences of the string you're thinking of using as the temporary replacement (e.g. AAAA). If there are already such occurrences then choose a different string. ;-)
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
add a comment |
One simple, very old-school way is to do multiple replacement passes:
Replace
VectorBaseby, sayAAAA(some string that you're sure doesn't already occur somewhere).Replace
VectorbyVectorBase.Replace
AAAAbyVectorBase.
This works for replace-all and query-replace. It's pretty fail-safe and doesn't require any complex matching or fancy replacement regexp.
However: It's important that you first look for any occurrences of the string you're thinking of using as the temporary replacement (e.g. AAAA). If there are already such occurrences then choose a different string. ;-)
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
add a comment |
One simple, very old-school way is to do multiple replacement passes:
Replace
VectorBaseby, sayAAAA(some string that you're sure doesn't already occur somewhere).Replace
VectorbyVectorBase.Replace
AAAAbyVectorBase.
This works for replace-all and query-replace. It's pretty fail-safe and doesn't require any complex matching or fancy replacement regexp.
However: It's important that you first look for any occurrences of the string you're thinking of using as the temporary replacement (e.g. AAAA). If there are already such occurrences then choose a different string. ;-)
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
One simple, very old-school way is to do multiple replacement passes:
Replace
VectorBaseby, sayAAAA(some string that you're sure doesn't already occur somewhere).Replace
VectorbyVectorBase.Replace
AAAAbyVectorBase.
This works for replace-all and query-replace. It's pretty fail-safe and doesn't require any complex matching or fancy replacement regexp.
However: It's important that you first look for any occurrences of the string you're thinking of using as the temporary replacement (e.g. AAAA). If there are already such occurrences then choose a different string. ;-)
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
answered 2 hours ago
DrewDrew
47.4k462104
47.4k462104
add a comment |
add a comment |
If you need to replace every instance except those specifically followed by some text, your regex engine MAY support "look around" functions. In that case, you could do this: replace Vector(?!Base) with VectorBase which would have the following result:
Vector
VectorFoo
VectorBase
would be converted to
VectorBase
VectorBaseFoo
VectorBase
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
If you need to replace every instance except those specifically followed by some text, your regex engine MAY support "look around" functions. In that case, you could do this: replace Vector(?!Base) with VectorBase which would have the following result:
Vector
VectorFoo
VectorBase
would be converted to
VectorBase
VectorBaseFoo
VectorBase
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
If you need to replace every instance except those specifically followed by some text, your regex engine MAY support "look around" functions. In that case, you could do this: replace Vector(?!Base) with VectorBase which would have the following result:
Vector
VectorFoo
VectorBase
would be converted to
VectorBase
VectorBaseFoo
VectorBase
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
If you need to replace every instance except those specifically followed by some text, your regex engine MAY support "look around" functions. In that case, you could do this: replace Vector(?!Base) with VectorBase which would have the following result:
Vector
VectorFoo
VectorBase
would be converted to
VectorBase
VectorBaseFoo
VectorBase
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
answered 2 mins ago
user3067860user3067860
101
101
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
user3067860 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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