RegExp in Macro failing

alanb · Sep 15, 2005#12005-09-15T16:50+00:00

I have a text file with up to 100000 lines like the following:

$P:U
$A:A
$C:Code_Opportunity
$U:N
$V:' '
$P:U
$A:A
$C:Code_Ratings_Code
$U:N
$V:' '
$T:CHAR(1)

Each "tag" starts with "$" and ends with ":". They should be in groups of 6 lines, one each of: $P: $A: $C: $U: $V: $T: in a group.

However, there may be some "$T:" tags missing (see the first group, above), so I want to parse the file and identify the missing "$T:" tags and insert them as "$T:<missing>".

To make matters worse, I will also have to do the same for missing "$V:" tags...

I tried the (Ultraedit style) Find RegExp "^$V:*^P%^$P:" but this finds every $V: tag. Also "^$V:*^P%^$P:" finds none.

Hope the above is clear, but what am I doing wrong?

TIA

Mofi · Sep 15, 2005#22005-09-15T17:17+00:00

Use ^$V:*^p^$P:

% (= start of line) can be only used once in the search string at begin of the search string. By specifying ^p you have already specified also start of next line. To see this, simply search for a single ^p and look where the cursor is now. It is not at the end of the line, it is at start of the next line.

alanb · Sep 15, 2005#32005-09-15T17:21+00:00

Thanks, Mofi - but this still does not work (copied and pasted from your reply)!

It finds:

$V:' '
$T:CHAR(1)
$P:U

and I need to find:

$V:' '
$P:U
$A:A

Mofi · Sep 16, 2005#42005-09-16T10:37+00:00

You have found a bug within UltraEdit's regular expression. UltraEdit is selecting everything after second ^$ until a P: is found. If using ^$V:*^p^$*T: it finds

$V:' '
$P:U
$A:A
$C:Code_Ratings_Code
$U:N
$V:' '
$T:

and this is definitively not OK.

I found a workaround for this bug - use ^$V:*^p^$*P:

alanb · Sep 16, 2005#52005-09-16T11:32+00:00

Thanks again Mofi - I guessed it had to be a bug & I'm mailing Ian and the Uedit team about it now.

Your workaround works fine!
But can you explain (why you think) it works, please?

Regards
Alan

Mofi · Sep 16, 2005#62005-09-16T12:19+00:00

I have already sent an email about this problem to IDM support with a link to this forum topic and extra description.

I inserted the * after second ^$ because * means any numbers of characters which includes also number 0. I also don't know, why UltraEdit searches for P: after second $ and ignoring all characters between the $ and P:. We have to wait for the answer of the IDM developers.

alanb · Sep 16, 2005#72005-09-16T12:58+00:00

OK Mofi.

The good news is that I am now able to replace 4 loops in my original macro with 4 RegEX Find/Replace which works many times faster.

I have another query with the macro which I'll post in the appropriate forum if I can't find an answer in previous posts.

Thanks again for your time,
Alan