Search & Replace

[Scott Nielsen]

I would like to replace the following lines in an Epub of mine:

<p class="timebreak">&nbsp;<br class="calibre1" /></p>

<p class="timebreak">

with just (for example):

<p class="left">

I'm not having much success so far and I suppose the blank line in the text to be replaced is the cause of it. From a cursory search I gather something called 'marked text' may help me in Sigil but I do not understand how to use it (assuming I didn't completely misunderstood the advice of another thread which, sadly, is quite probable).

Guidance much appreciated.

[Tex2002ans]

Make sure you turn on Regex mode:



Search:

<p class="timebreak">&nbsp;<br class="calibre1" /></p>\s*<p class="timebreak">

Replace:

<p class="left">

Or if there are many calibre#s (and not just "calibre1" in that position), you will want to use this Search instead:

<p class="timebreak">&nbsp;<br class="calibre[0-9]+" /></p>\s*<p class="timebreak">

Red section says look for any "calibre", followed by one or more 0-9. This means it will match "calibre1", "calibre2", .... "calibre99999".

Blue section says look for zero or more "white space".

WARNING: Whenever using Regex, be extremely careful, and DO NOT use "replace all" until you have manually done "Replace" "Replace" "Replace", paying careful attention to make sure everything is working correctly. Save a copy of the EPUB before you go use Regex.

[Scott Nielsen]

Worked beautifully. Thanks so much.

[DiapDealer]

I like the regex way of doing things (\s+) myself. But in case it's awkward for some, simply highlighting the entire code-block, copying, and then pasting into the searchbox is usually sufficient for matching (even in normal mode). It includes the necessary (but invisible) line endings when pasting.

Obviously if you're trying to match multiple, numbered calibre classes, you'll still need some regex regardless.

[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Obviously if you're trying to match multiple, numbered calibre classes, you'll still need some regex regardless.

I haven't used a Calibre conversion in a WHILE, but last I remembered, it was riddled with lots of calibre### classes. So I just was basing my Regex off of that assumption.

Sometimes people don't post all the information in their examples. Next, they will come back saying:

Great, I was able to use that search and replace 255 times!

<p class="timebreak">&nbsp;<br class="calibre1" /></p>\s*<p class="timebreak">

[...]

<p class="timebreak">&nbsp;<br class="calibre255" /></p>\s*<p class="timebreak">

I remember I used to manually look up exactly what each calibre### class did, and then strip it out and/or remove the redundancy in the CSS... one at a time. (Oh, the horrors of my life before Regex)