Utility: Search and Replace using “Regular Expressions”

Example #1

1. Click the Sample Text button, above.

2. Click Left Justify.

Example #2

1. Click Clear all.

2. Click Sample Text.

3. Type a period (“.”) in the search string text box.

4. Click Go. (All of the text disappears because a period means “match anything” and since the replacement text box is empty, everything was replaced by nothing.)

Example #3 (Same as example #2 except for one significant additional step.

1. Click Clear all.

2. Click Sample Text.

3. Type a period (“.”) in the search string text box.

4. Click Convert to Regular Expression*.

5. Click Go. (This time only the periods are deleted because the backslash indicates that the period should only match periods.)

For complete documentation on “Regular Expression” search string syntax, see http:// ashutoshsaxena.tripod.com/jstut/quickstart/ch080.html.

* The Convert to Regular Expression* button converts an “ordinary text” search string into the required, “Regular Expression” search string. Simply manually enter or “copy/paste” the search string, including any special characters or <Enter> characters, into the “The Search String” text box, and then click Convert to Regular Expression*. (The converted search string replaces the unconverted string.)

Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome.
Howard Charles Best ()