Java String Replace on an XML pattern

Question

I have the following XML String:

String XML = "<TEST><MESSAGEID>5435646578</MESSAGEID></TEST>";

The number in the xml string keeps changing so I want to do a string replace and want to make the XML into

<TEST><MESSAGEID></MESSAGEID></TEST>

I am looking for doing something like this but I'm not sure how to get the pattern for the first argument in the replaceAll method.

public class HelloWorld {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String XML = "<MESSAGEID>5435646578</MESSAGEID>";
        String newStr = XML.replaceAll("<MESSAGEID>*</MESSAGEID>", "<MESSAGEID></MESSAGEID>");
        System.out.println(newStr);
    }
}

try replacing your * in uotmXML.replaceAll("<MESSAGEID>*</MESSAGEID>" with [^<]+. This will match everything until the < character — dvo
– dvo, Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 19:27
This worked for me. If you would like to add it as an answer as opposed to a comment, I will accept this answer. — p0tta
– p0tta, Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 19:54

IronMan · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-23 19:28:29Z

3

The pattern <MESSAGEID>[0-9]+</MESSAGEID> would work. If the structure of your input can change, you may want to use an XML parser instead.

answered Aug 23, 2019 at 19:28

IronMan

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Comments

ansjob · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-23 19:37:07Z

2

I would use the regex ^<MESSAGEID>(\d+)</MESSAGEID>$ to find the digits (in group 1), if you are guaranteed the format won't change. Otherwise I would use a proper XML library like JAXB or Jackson.

answered Aug 23, 2019 at 19:37

ansjob

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Victor P · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-23 19:44:21Z

2

I would use the alphanumeric pattern unless you're absolutely certain it'll just be numeric:

// alphanumeric
String newStr = uotmXML.replaceAll("<MESSAGEID>\w+</MESSAGEID>", "<MESSAGEID></MESSAGEID>");

// digits
String newStr = uotmXML.replaceAll("<MESSAGEID>\d+</MESSAGEID>", "<MESSAGEID></MESSAGEID>");

edited Aug 23, 2019 at 19:44

answered Aug 23, 2019 at 19:32

Victor P

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dvo · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-23 19:57:07Z

1

try replacing your * in uotmXML.replaceAll("<MESSAGEID>*</MESSAGEID>", ... with [^<]+. This will match everything until the < character

answered Aug 23, 2019 at 19:57

dvo

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