This is my coding:
alpha = ["first", 55, 28]
beta = ["second", 89, 09]
gamma = ["third", 99, 40]
And this is my intended outcome:
first", 55, 28]
second", 89, 09]
third", 99, 40]
I've tried replace the regex of ^.*?" with empty. But why I get this instead?:
, 55, 28]
, 89, 09]
, 99, 40]
Find and replace with
^.*?\["
Input
alpha = ["first", 55, 28]
beta = ["second", 89, 09]
gamma = ["third", 99, 40]
Result
first", 55, 28]
second", 89, 09]
third", 99, 40]
The problem with ^.*?" is that it's replacing all the content one by one
You're starting with this content
alpha = ["first", 55, 28]
beta = ["second", 89, 09]
gamma = ["third", 99, 40]
After first replace (as expected), the content becomes this,
first", 55, 28]
beta = ["second", 89, 09]
gamma = ["third", 99, 40]
Now, in the next replace, the cursor is still at the start of the line. Notice that there is one more double quote " in this line (just after the text first), thus the RegEx is matched again and so it will again replace everything before
the first double quote
, 55, 28]
beta = ["second", 89, 09]
gamma = ["third", 99, 40]
When you continue in this manner, you'll get the output as:
, 55, 28]
, 89, 09]
, 99, 40]
And so use ^.*?\[" instead of ^.*?"
EDIT
If there are any chances that you have arrays inside your parent array, then you can use ^.*?\=\s*\[\s*".
This regex will also deal with whitespace character.
Input
alpha = ["first", 55, 28]
beta = ["second", 89, 09]
gamma = ["third", 99, 40]
delta = ["fourth", ["55"], 28]
After replace
first", 55, 28]
second", 89, 09]
third", 99, 40]
fourth", ["55"], 28]
alpha = ["first", ["55"], 28]. It might not be something OP will have in the input, but the point is that you just have to match the whole line to be able to use such a replacement with Replace all.
Use this regex:
^[^"]*"(.*)$
The quantity in parenthesis is called a capture group, because its contents will be captured for each line in your file for which the replace operation is run. You want to retain this captured material, so use a replacement of \1 in the dialog box.
Here is a screen capture of how to use it:
you could try this .*=\s?\[. of course all setting as @TimBiegeleisen showed.
^[^"]*"..^.*?"withX(ie something) it works as expected, but if you replace with blank, it doesn't work. I suspect there's a bug where the match pointer is incorrectly set after replacing with blank.