how to replace string between 2 chars with newline in python

Question

I want to remove the data between single quotes i.e. avcd

a = 'avcd';

I am using this code. Although, i am getting the the text data from a text file.

text = 'acbnmmff hjkki.
    It is recommended'

r = re.sub(r"= '.*?';", '', text.rstrip('\r\n'))

My code is working fine but when the text contains any newline, then it fails at the new line.

How can i make it work

When i try to replace the data in the text variable, then only acbnmmff hjkki. gets replaced. Similarly when i try to get the data between ' and '; then i only gets acbnmmff hjkki. not the whole string. — Rohan
– Rohan, Commented Mar 17, 2015 at 9:04
replace newlines with something else and put them back afterward. — Skaperen
– Skaperen, Commented Mar 17, 2015 at 9:05
If you're going to insist on using regular expressions for this, then I'm pretty sure you'll need to add the re.MULTILINE flag to your regular expression. docs.python.org/2/library/re.html#re.MULTILINE — Jim Dennis
– Jim Dennis, Commented Mar 17, 2015 at 9:05

JuniorCompressor · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-17 09:09:45Z

1

There is the misconception that . matches everything in python. But it doesn't match new lines unless you specify the re.DOTALL flag. You can use it in your case like this:

r = re.sub(r"= '.*?';", '', text.rstrip('\r\n'), flags=re.DOTALL)

answered Mar 17, 2015 at 9:09

JuniorCompressor

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Moinuddin Quadri · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-01 16:43:03Z

0

Try this: r = re.sub(r"= '.*?';", '', text.rstrip('\r\n'), flags=re.DOTALL)

edited Mar 1, 2016 at 16:43

answered Mar 17, 2015 at 8:59

Moinuddin Quadri

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4 Comments

Rohan Over a year ago

string to replace is unknown. It comes dynamically.

Moinuddin Quadri Over a year ago

So what? For example: a is the substring to be replaced and b is the new substring (where a & b are variable). You may use it like: r = text.replace(a, b)

Rohan Over a year ago

I dont know what is a. I just know that whatever is there between = ' and '; to be replaced with null. How the above code be used ?

Moinuddin Quadri Over a year ago

Sorry, misunderstood your problem. Then you have to use regex. You can achhieve that by: r = re.sub(r"= '.*?';", '', text.rstrip('\r\n'). re.DOTALL) For matching new lines, DOTALL flag is required

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