Replace number with text using regex

Question

I need to go through a file and replace all instances where an issue is mentioned using the Github convention #xxx (where xxx is the issue number), with a link to the issue using the Markdown format.

So for example, this:

#143, #99

should be converted into this:

[#143](https://github.com/repo/issues/143), [#99](https://github.com/repo/issues/99)

I've gotten as far as to being able to select all the issues with three digits using:

#..[0-9]

but this leaves out the two or one digits issues (ie: #5 or #23)

Is there a way to generalize the above command to select all issues, no matter how many digits they have?

Once this is done, how can I make the replacement to add a link to each issue?

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-02 14:44:31Z

2

You should use this regex:

#[0-9]{1,3}

to match a issue # between 1 and 3 digits as [0-9]{1,3} will match a number that is 1 to 3 in length.

You can also use use word boundaries:

#[0-9]+\b

answered Mar 2, 2015 at 14:44

anubhava

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3 Comments

blackmind Over a year ago

well looks like you beat me :)

Gabriel Over a year ago

This works great for selecting the issues, thanks anubhava! Any idea how I could replace them with the correct markdown link?

anubhava Over a year ago

You should match #([0-9]+)\b and replace it by: [$0](https://github.com/repo/issues/$1) Where $0 and $1 are back-references to the matched data.

Amit Joki · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-02 14:45:15Z

1

You need the regex #(\d+) and replace with [#$1](https://github.com/repo/issues/$1)

answered Mar 2, 2015 at 14:45

Amit Joki

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3 Comments

Gabriel Over a year ago

The first regex isn't working for me Amit, it selects nothing.

Gabriel Over a year ago

The second one also isn't working, the number gets replaced by [#](https://github.com/repo/issues/). I'm using Sublime BTW, not sure if it's relevant.

Amit Joki Over a year ago

@Gabriel try now. You don't need delimiters that I had used in Sublime

blackmind · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-02 14:45:08Z

1

Try this regex for what you are trying to do

#[0-9]{1,3}

answered Mar 2, 2015 at 14:45

blackmind

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