How can i replace any word but one in a string using C# regex?

Question

Given a string like this: Fixing this [HFW] takes alot of [HFW] time [HFW]

should be this: [CW] [CW] [HFW] [CW] [CW] [CW] [HFW] [CW] [HFW]

I need to replace any word with [CW] except the tags [HFW]. I've been trying this alot, the best i got is:

regex = new Regex(@"[^(\[HFW\])_]+");
cleanText = regex.Replace(cleanText, " [CW] ");

Which almost works, but i get the first capital F left out, being a part of [HFW] tag. I mean, it won't take [HFW] as a group.

Thank you

Why regex? Isn't this easier to do by tokenizing the string? — John Sobolewski
– John Sobolewski, Commented May 13, 2013 at 17:32

Jerry · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-13 17:46:54Z

2

I've got one which is a bit... cranky? But it does the trick for your sample string:

(?<!\[|F|\[F)\w+(?!W|\]|W\]\])

The issue with [^...] is that it doesn't look at the order of the characters \[, H, F, W or \].

There's probably a more elegant one than this and I'm still trying to look for it.

Another possible one:

\w+(?=\s)|(?<=\s)\w+

edited May 13, 2013 at 17:46

answered May 13, 2013 at 17:29

Jerry

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5 Comments

Darksody Over a year ago

That's not working, it's replacing every character with [CW] except [HFW]. I need to replace every whole word.

Jerry Over a year ago

@user569605 It's replacing every whole word, I already tested it here. Your current pattern replaces series of words by a single [CW]. Is that what you actually want?

Jerry Over a year ago

I found another expression: \w+(?=\s)|(?<=\s)\w+. Maybe that one is better at your code? I'm still confused that C# is taking every character :(

Darksody Over a year ago

It was my mistake, it takes the whole word. Thank you alot :)

Jerry Over a year ago

@user569605 Awesome then! :)

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