Hi folks,

Great forum - no less than I'd expect for the best darn editor EVER!

Today's question: can one use the current filename (a la "%f" under Tools) with a RegExp? I've got the usual ton of files that we want to go back and edit to include a line with the (preferably unqualified) filename in it. Caveat: I am a few release behind (currently on 11.something) so if this feature has made it's way into the current product, am more than happy to upgrade (and will soon anyway) but not sure if it's in there yet or not. Failing that, any other clever ideas on how to do this? Will write a program (Java/sed/whatever) if I have to - already have a great regExp to include a line with a "<filename>" tag in it just primed for replacement, but would like to use UE if possible.

Thanks!
Jim C.

Hi Jim,

a regex can't know your current filename (there are no variables in regexes other than the contents of matches). So it seems that scripting would be the right tool for this - which means that you need version 13. I guess jorrasdk will be able to answer definitely if what you want to do is possible with the scripting engine.

Regards,
Tim

Yes I can see this solved using scripts made available from UE13 and beyond. But since JimC is still on UE11 something I have this suggestion:

I think you can get around the problem with two macros:

A) One to run through all documents in a folder with a given extension
B) and one to find the position where current filename is to be inserted and insert current filename.

I will start with the second B). Name it "insertFilename" and enter this macro code:

InsertMode
ColumnModeOff
HexOff
UnixReOff
Top
Find "Program:"
IfFound
Key LEFT ARROW
Key RIGHT ARROW
"
"
CopyFilePath
Paste
Find Up "\"
Replace ""
StartSelect
KEY HOME
Delete
EndSelect
Key BACKSPACE
EndIf

Replace Program: with whatever is needed to find the position in your files where filename should be inserted. Basicly it take the full qualified filename and path from CopyFilePath and then strips of the path part.

The first A) is an adaptation of one of Mofi's brilliant macros:

NewFile
FindInFiles "directory" "file type" ""
Loop
Find MatchCase Up "Search complete, found "
IfFound
ExitLoop
Else
NextWindow
EndIf
EndLoop
DeleteLine
Top
NextWindow
CloseFile NoSave
Loop
IfEof
ExitLoop
EndIf
StartSelect
Key END
Open "^s"
PlayMacro 1 "InsertFilename"
CloseFile Save
EndSelect
DeleteLine
EndLoop
CloseFile NoSave

InsertFilename is the call to the B) macro above.

Disclaimer: I have tested this using UE13 and hope it will execute on UE11. Be sure to test it first before executing the macro against your production files.

I hope it is useful for you!

Cheers!
Jorras

Edited by Mofi: Replaced GotoLineSelect 0 1 in macro "insertFilename" with appropriate code because this command is not available in UE v11.x.

Wow - amazing stuff! Thanks for the quick response.

OK - so assuming I update to current 13.x, is there some other preferred way to do this with the current version of UE?

And - I noticed in the linked-in Mofi macro a reference to this NOT working for FTP files - is that doable/possible also? THAT would be hugely beneficial for us as well if so.

Thanks,
Jim C.

BTW - Does anyone else see value in getting "editting variables", (such as %f, %F, %p, etc) added to regExp? I'm thinking of posting this as a possible product enhancement but not sure if I'm just out in left field with this one... Seems like they might have uses in various scenarios though.