I am not able to solve this: I have text file with some entries like "user = ABname". I would like to search for all the lines containing user id not beginning with "AB" or "ab" and I need to do it with a regular exp using the search functionality of Notepad++. I have tried using
user = ^[ab]
but actually is not working as expected.
I should find all these:
user = CDname1
user = cdname2
user = acname3
user = xbname4
but not
user = abname1
user = ABname2
Try using negative look ahead:
user = (?![aA][bB]).*
You are misunderstand how a character class works. The character class - [ab] matches only one character, out of all present inside [ and ]. So, it will match either a or b. I won't match ab in sequence. Basically
[ab] is same as a|b.
You need to use a negative lookahead, such as:
^user = (?![Aa][Bb])
Try: ^user = ([aA][^bB].*|[^a].*)
It looks for user = then either: a followed by anything that's not b or "anything that doesn't start with an a.
You can use this:
user = (?:[^a]|a(?!b))\S+
(don't check the case insensitive box, but check the regex box:)
