replace word of first part string in python

Question

In Python, I would like to replace the "be" into "nl" in the following string:

http://test.nl/be/nl/product/abc-dadf-adsfsw-12234/

BUT!! I want it to check the part BEFORE /product/, because if the string after /product/ contains a "be" it has to remain the same.

Examples:

http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/ (part BEFORE /product/ contains no be, so has to remain the same)

http://test.nl/be/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/ (part BEFORE /product/ contains be, so it has to be replaced with nl, so it becomes http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/)

http://test.be/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/ (part BEFORE /product/ contains be, so it has to be replaced with nl, so it becomes http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/)

Could you give an example of when "be" has to remain the same? — rickcnagy
– rickcnagy, Commented Apr 4, 2014 at 11:43
What did you try that didn't work? Are the strings you're doing the replacement in always in this exact format of "http://test.nl/be/nl/product/.*"? — Wooble
– Wooble, Commented Apr 4, 2014 at 11:45

Sabuj Hassan · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-04 11:49:19Z

1

Use positive lookahead for this.

url = '''http://test.nl/be/nl/product/abc-dadf-adsfsw-12234/'''
url = re.sub("/be/(?=.*/product/)", "/nl/", url)
# or using word boundary around `be` to handle .be/ .be. etc
# url = re.sub("\bbe\b(?=.*/product/)", "nl", url)
print url

This positive lookahead (?=.*/product/) is checking that there is /product/ exists after the /be/ in front.

But remember, this regex is true for any /be/ which are before /product/. In general I am talking about multiple occurrence.

answered Apr 4, 2014 at 11:49

Sabuj Hassan

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2 Comments

Erik van de Ven Over a year ago

Your answer works and with least code, thanks!:) Is there a possibility to double check or it contains /product/ OR /forum/ ?

Sabuj Hassan Over a year ago

@ErikVandeVen everything. Try this (?=.*/(?:product|forum|another|more|any)/)

Lily Mara · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-04 11:49:38Z

0

The simplest way I can think of doing that is splitting the string with a regular expression. Here is some code that should give you the desired output.

import re #python's regular expression module
string = 'http://test.nl/be/nl/product/abc-dadf-adsfsw-12234/'

search = re.match('(.*)(product.*)', string)
first_part = search.group(1)
next_part = search.group(2)

first_part = first_part.replace('be', 'nl')

new_string = first_part + next_part
print(new_string)

answered Apr 4, 2014 at 11:49

Lily Mara

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Comments

rickcnagy · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-04 11:57:46Z

0

Option without regexp (and no imports):

elements = raw_input('URL?\n').split('/')

for i in range(0, elements.index('product')):
    elements[i] = elements[i].replace('be', 'nl')

print '/'.join(elements)

Tests:

http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/
  -> http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/

http://test.nl/be/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/
  -> http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/

http://test.be/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/
  -> http://test.nl/nl/nl/product/abc-dadf-be-adsfsw-12234/

edited Apr 4, 2014 at 11:57

answered Apr 4, 2014 at 11:52

rickcnagy

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