Replace string by excluding some strings in Java

Question

How can I replace following string in Java:

Sports videos (From 2002 To 2003) here.

TO

Sports videos 2002 2003 here.

I have use code but it remove the whole string i.e.
I am getting this ouput: Sports videos here.

String pattern= "\\((From)(?:\\s*\\d*\\s*)(To)(?:\\s*\\d*\\s*)\\)";

String testStr = "Sports videos (From 2002 To 2003) here.";

String testStrAfterRegex =  testStr.replaceFirst(pattern, "");

What is missing here?

Thanks

DIFFERENT STRING WITH DATE FORMATTER

If above string has date formatter like(\\) or any other character/words then digit, the answer will not work

I replace orginal answer with this pattern and it will work

String pattern= "\\((From)(.*)(To)(.*)\\)";

Topera · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-30 02:01:03Z

3

Change to

    String pattern= "\\((From)(\\s*\\d*\\s*)(To)(\\s*\\d*\\s*)\\)";
    String testStr = "Sports videos (From 2002 To 2003) here.";
    String testStrAfterRegex =  testStr.replaceFirst(pattern, "$2 $4");

There are two problems:

First

You put (?:) in groups with years. This is used to not remember these groups.

Second

You don't use group identifiers, like $1, $2. I fixed using $2 and $4 for 2th and 4th groups.

EDIT

Cleaner solution:

    String pattern= "\\(From(\\s*\\d*\\s*)To(\\s*\\d*\\s*)\\)";
    String testStr = "Sports videos (From 2002 To 2003) here.";
    String testStrAfterRegex =  testStr.replaceFirst(pattern, "$1$2");

edited Aug 30, 2010 at 2:01

answered Aug 30, 2010 at 1:55

Topera

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3 Comments

NETQuestion Over a year ago

Where I can learn for group identifiers.? Also What about If I want to replace "TO" with - (dash). i.e. Sports videos 2002- 2003 here.

NETQuestion Over a year ago

I found myself String testStrAfterRegex = testStr.replaceFirst(pattern, "$2 - $4");

Topera Over a year ago

@NETQuestion: Hi, you can learn more here regular-expressions.info/brackets.html

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