Replace partial string in array

[shornw]

I have to make changes to about 1000 .txt files, and would like to do it using an array, as I have always struggled with any array functions other than simple stuff.

1. remove blank lines

2. edit a string within one of the lines

I have removed all the blank lines quite easily -

For $i = UBound($aArr1) - 1 To 0 Step -1
   if stringlen($aArr1[$i]) = 0 Then _ArrayDelete($aArr1, $i)
Next

The edit string withn the array is proving more 'challenging'. the array entry is along the lines of 'Smart Array 6i in Slot 0 (Embedded)' (typically it could be different and is definitely in a different line position in some files) but I want to amend the 'slot' to 'slot='. I know I can use _ArrayToString(), StringInString() and StringReplace(), and I have experimented with:

_ArrayToClip($aArr1,1)
ClipPut(StringReplace(ClipGet(), "slot", "slot="))

which works, as in it replaces the string, but how do I get the modified string or clipboard contents back into the array, or do I have to create a second array and write it to that.

Is therre an opportunity for a _ArrayReplace() function (better minds than mine will answer this)

Thanks for any help anyone can offer

[Zedna]

You can achieve your goal without arrays.

Look at StringRegExpReplace() - with this it will be much much faster!

[UEZ]

Try this:

#include <Array.au3>
$aTxt = StringRegExp(FileRead("Test.reg"), "(.+)\s+", 3) ;remove all empty lines
_ArrayDisplay($aTxt)
$search = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
$replace = "HKLM"
$aIndices = _ArrayFindAll($aTxt, $search, 0, 0, 0, 1)
For $i = 0 To UBound($aIndices) - 1
$aTxt[$aIndices[$i]] = StringReplace($aTxt[$aIndices[$i]], $search, $replace) ;replace HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE string with HKLM
Next
_ArrayDisplay($aTxt)

Test.reg is a registry file with some empty lines.

Br,

UEZ

Edited September 8, 2011 by UEZ

[shornw]

Thanks for the replies guys, I knew I could achieve it without using an array, but I wanted to make sure that I hadn't missed something, and also use it to develop array knowledge.

UEZ - can you explain how

$aTxt = StringRegExp(FileRead("Test.reg"), "(.+)\s+", 3)

replaces blank lines ie what do "(.+)\s+" represent.

Thanks

[UEZ]

Well, regular expression is neither easy to explain and nor to understand. I'm still in learning mode.

(.+)\s+ means group all character until any whitespace character. Only the grouped characters will be listed in the array.

GEOSoft can explain it much better than me.

Br,

UEZ

[shornw]

WHOA!!!! I've never touched RegEXP, and I think I'm glad I haven't had to. This is a whole new learning experience for me. It's a bit like learning an Asiatic language - there are no recognisable reference points. I can see the use tho, but I'm gonna need some time to get my head round it.

Thanks for advice, especially to UEZ. As always, I'm ubah impressed by the knowledge and helpfulness of forum members.

[Zedna]

  On 9/8/2011 at 3:04 PM, shornw said:

UEZ - can you explain how

$aTxt = StringRegExp(FileRead("Test.reg"), "(.+)\s+", 3)

replaces blank lines ie what do "(.+)\s+" represent.

Just for the reference

here is derived script which remove empty lines and returns string instead of array

$Txt = StringRegExpReplace(FileRead("Test.reg"), "(.+)\s+", '\1') ; remove all empty lines

Edited September 9, 2011 by Zedna