Need help with a regex

[mobiuser]

Hi guys, I'm working on a dictionary for the kindle pw, but I need some help with the regular-expressions.
This is the regex: if the string "phrasal verb" is found I'd like to replace the "<b>" tag (also present in the same line) with this "<b>⌂ ". So there will be a tag, a symbol and an empty space. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Toxaris]

The application you are using is important here, as there are multiple flavors or RegEx. The following should work:

look for: (\<b\>)(?=phrasal verb)
Replace by: \1⌂

[mobiuser]

The regex doesn't seem to work. I'm using notepad++.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by mobiuser

The regex doesn't seem to work. I'm using notepad++.

You description of the string that you're looking for is somewhat vague. Assuming that you want to replace:

<b>take down</b> phrasal verb

with

<b>⌂take down</b> phrasal verb

You could search for:

<b>(.*)<\/b> (phrasal verb)

and replace it with:

<b>⌂\1</b> \2

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by Doitsu

You could search for:

<b>(.*)<\/b> (phrasal verb)

and replace it with:

<b>⌂\1</b> \2

Or search:

(<b>)(.*<\/b> phrasal verb)

Replace:

\1⌂\2

[mobiuser]

Nothing works... Anyway, the regex should apply to lines similar to this:

<div class="dsl_m2"><font color="blue"><b>account for something</b></font><i><font color="green"> phrasal verb</font></i></div>

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by mobiuser

The regex doesn't seem to work. I'm using notepad++.

It should work, but I know that the lookahead function has issues in Notepad++. It is the result of the RegEx library that NotePad++ uses, which is Boost. I love Notepad++, but its RegEx is full with bugs.

[mobiuser]

Which software do you suggest?

[Toxaris]

I have no real alternative to be honest. I use Notepad++ myself. I avoid RegEx however in Notepad++.

[mobiuser]

Ok, I've tried EditPad Lite since should have the best regex support, but the results are the same (for all the suggestions).

[Arios]

You can also try SynWrite: http://sourceforge.net/projects/synwrite/

[mobiuser]

Nice app, but no luck

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by mobiuser

Ok, I've tried EditPad Lite since should have the best regex support, but the results are the same (for all the suggestions).

That's because you initially provided not enough information about the string to look for and the replacement. For example, my suggestions worked just fine for the specific string that I assumed you were looking for.

It obviously won't work if there are other tags between the text in <b></b> tags and "phrasal verb," which you forgot to mention.

BTW, regular expressions only work if the string that you're looking for has a predictable pattern. For more information see this tutorial website.

[mobiuser]

Sorry for not providing enough information, but I know very little of regular-expressions . Is there anything I can do at this point?

[najgori]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

It should work, but I know that the lookahead function has issues in Notepad++. It is the result of the RegEx library that NotePad++ uses, which is Boost. I love Notepad++, but its RegEx is full with bugs.

i have used python plugin for notepad++ and python regular expression replace, for complex corrections in html.

i am not sure how good is python regex library?