C# Regex Pattern Match for specific string

Question

Trying to do a regex match and replace for a specific pattern to rename files. Unfortunately I'm not very good using regex and would appreciate any help you can offer.

the pattern I'm looking to replace is.

(Conflicted copy * )

To explain I need to replace (Conflicted copy *) basically everything that matches the words "(Conflicted copy" pattern and anything between those words and the closing parentheses.

so for example. Book1 (Conflicted copy some junk here).xls to : Book1.xls

What regex would I use for that? To replace?

I've tried the following: pattern = "$[^\(]*$";

Unfortunately that doesn't work as there are paths that have () in them.

(ie, C:\Some crap\1.(stuff)\book1 (Conflicted copy junk stuff).xls )

it will fail and rename the file to:

(C:\Some crap\1.\book1.xls) -> then error out because that path doesn't exist.

Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you guys.

Add the "Conflicted copy" into the regexp so it only matches that — Sami Kuhmonen
– Sami Kuhmonen, Commented May 14, 2017 at 17:22
@SamiKuhmonen - Thanks for replying. I would but I don't know exactly where to add it in. Again not familiar with regex. — Valmorgal
– Valmorgal, Commented May 14, 2017 at 17:26

Stephane Janicaud · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-14 17:50:19Z

2

As it's very easy to get file extension, you could use this regex to extract filename only :

[^\\]*(?=\s\(Conflicted copy)

then append original file extension.

This avoid the use of regex groups by using positive lookahead.

Explanation

[^\\]* Match anything but a \ (to exclude file path)

(?=\s\(Conflicted copy) followed by a whitespace and (Conflicted copy

Demo

Other solution using groups

The following regex will extract filename without (Conflicted copy ...) and file extension :

([^\\]*)(?=\s$Conflicted copy).*?$(\..*)$

Group 1 : filename

Group 2 : file extension

Demo

edited May 14, 2017 at 17:50

answered May 14, 2017 at 17:29

Stephane Janicaud

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Stephane Janicaud Over a year ago

Updated answer to exclude file paths

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