How to use StringRegExpReplace to replace non-standard strings

[llolslim]

Hi guys

I have a list of words that I need to replace certain characters in

there are three different sections that need to be replaced

these are the characters that need to be replaced:

1."/'" to be replaced by "%27"

2."+" to be replaced by "%2B"

3." (" to be replaced by "+(" <- there is a space before the bracket that needs to be replaced by a +

$slashdash = "/'"
$plus = "+"
$spacebracket = " ("

$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "/'", "%27") ;works
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, $plus, "%2B") ;doesn't work
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, $spacebracket, "+(");doesn't work

I have hundreds of words in the list for example

wood\'brown = wood%27brown

brick+2 = brick%2B2

slate (new) = slate+(new)

so each one needs to be run through all three of the StringRegExpReplace

my question is how can I get 2. and 3. to

hope that makes sense and someone can help

many thanks

laurie

Edited July 16, 2010 by llolslim

[GEOSoft]

Those are special characters within the regEx engine and as such should be escaped either with a "\" or the\Q\E sequence

$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "\Q" & $plus & "\E", "%2B")
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "\Q" & $spacebracket & "\E", "+(")

EDIT:

I only showed the one method but you might prefer the other one so here it is.

$slashdash = "/'"
$plus = "\+"
$spacebracket = " \("

$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "/'", "%27")
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, $plus, "%2B")
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, $spacebracket, "+(")

Edited July 16, 2010 by GEOSoft

[DicatoroftheUSA]

From

http://www.regular-expressions.info/characters.html

If you want to use any of these characters as a literal in a regex, you need to escape them with a backslash. If you want to match 1+1=2, the correct regex is 1\+1=2. Otherwise, the plus sign will have a special meaning.

[llolslim]

Those are special characters within the regEx engine and as such should be escaped either with a "\" or the\Q\E sequence

$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "\Q" & $plus & "\E", "%2B")
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "\Q" & $spacebracket & "\E", "+(")

EDIT:

I only showed the one method but you might prefer the other one so here it is.

$slashdash = "/'"
$plus = "\+"
$spacebracket = " \("

$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, "/'", "%27")
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, $plus, "%2B")
$input = StringRegExpReplace($input, $spacebracket, "+(")

escaping with / is much easier for me to read, so that's great, thank you

From

http://www.regular-expressions.info/characters.html

that makes it very clear as well, so that's a great help also, thank you.

[GEOSoft]

Glad it worked.

You can easily test regExps with the toolkit in my signature.