using regex to return new filename

Question

Trying to get a filename and have it return a string.

try to turn:

plate-71-winter-hawk-final.jpg

into:

winter hawk final

where plate might also be uppercase. Here is what I have so far, doesn't seem to work

var theRegEx = new RegExp('[Plate|plate]-\d+-(.*).jpg');
var theString = "plate-71-winter-hawk-final.jpg"

var newString = theString.replace(theRegEx, theString);

newString;

Why do you need a regex to do this? You can use a combination of Substring and Replace to do this much quicker than you could have written this post. — Ken White
– Ken White, Commented Apr 1, 2016 at 0:33
Regex is much more complex than simple string manipulation, particularly when you're dealing with this type of operation. You don't need that complexity here. — Ken White
– Ken White, Commented Apr 1, 2016 at 0:35
Rule #1 to use RegEx: Look for alternatives of using RegEx. — user2705585
– user2705585, Commented Apr 1, 2016 at 0:35

Casimir et Hippolyte · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-01 10:12:02Z

2

Unfortunately, the "Rule #1" doesn't offer a better way:

var newString = theString.replace(/^[Pp]late-\d+-(.*)\.jpg$/, '$1')
                         .replace(/-/g, ' ');

Take care when you use a string with the object syntax to escape backslahes:

var theRegEx = new RegExp('^[Pp]late-\\d+-(.*)\\.jpg$');

Note that a character class is only a set of characters, you can't use it to put substrings and special regex characters loose their meaning inside it. [Plate|plate] is the same thing than [Pplate|]

You can write it like this too (without string):

var theRegEx = new RegExp(/^[Pp]late-\d+-(.*)\.jpg$/);

edited Apr 1, 2016 at 10:12

answered Apr 1, 2016 at 0:39

Casimir et Hippolyte

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3 Comments

user2705585 Over a year ago

This returns winter-hawk-final. Shouldn't - be removed ?

Casimir et Hippolyte Over a year ago

Yes, it need to be replaced with a space.

lukasz Over a year ago

yeah .replace(/-/g, ' '); seems to fix this, its in his example. this worked, thanks!

Saleem · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-01 01:08:30Z

0

Try following script. It's not dependent on length of string as long as it follows standard pattern:

var data = "plate-71-winter-hawk-final.jpg";
var rx = /(?:plate\-\d+\-)(.*)(?=\.)/i;

var match = rx.exec(data);
if(match != null){
   data = match[1];
   data = data.replace(/\-/g, ' ');
}

console.log(data);

It will print:

winter hawk final

answered Apr 1, 2016 at 1:08

Saleem

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