Replace text in string with exceptions

Question

I want to replace some text in a java string, but I don't want to replace it if the text is inside a section defined by $ and &. Example: The string "$foo& bar foo" with replace text foo would be "$foo& bar $foo&". So the replace text must be escaped using $ and & but not if the escape is already applied. Currently I'm using the regular expression ([^\\$]|^)text([^&]|$) and it works quite well but if only one of the symbols is found the regex doesn't match. Example: for the text "bar $foo" the regular expression ([^\\$]|^)foo([^&]|$) doesn't matches but I want a not match only if both sign are found.

add some small, complete and runnable example of what you're doing and we can try to help — Roberto Attias
– Roberto Attias, Commented Dec 17, 2016 at 17:51
@greywolf82 - So basically, all foo's should be replaced by $foo& provided the string is not already $foo& right? — TheLostMind
– TheLostMind, Commented Dec 17, 2016 at 17:51

TheLostMind · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-17 17:53:38Z

4

Use negative lookbehind for $ and negative lookahead for &. This will work for you :

public static void main(String[] args) {
    String s = "$foo& bar foo";
    s= s.replaceAll("(?<!\\$)foo(?!&)", "\\$foo&");
    System.out.println(s);
}

O/P :

$foo& bar $foo&

answered Dec 17, 2016 at 17:53

TheLostMind

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