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Replace character with another only if repeated and not part of a word

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6

In Python3, the following code works to replace a string (two or more) of *'s with x's.

import re

re.sub(r'*(?=*)|(?<=*)*', 'x', 'Replace this *** but not this *')

# 'Replace this xxx but not this *'

But what if I also want to exempt a string of *'s that are part of a "word" like the following? (I.e. the string is attached to one or more [a-zA-Z] characters.)

text = "Don't replace foo*** or **bar, either."

# unmodified text expected

How do I do this? I can probably match the exempted cases as well and use a replacement function to deal with them, but is there a better way?

python regex python-3.x

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

add a comment | 

6

In Python3, the following code works to replace a string (two or more) of *'s with x's.

import re

re.sub(r'*(?=*)|(?<=*)*', 'x', 'Replace this *** but not this *')

# 'Replace this xxx but not this *'

But what if I also want to exempt a string of *'s that are part of a "word" like the following? (I.e. the string is attached to one or more [a-zA-Z] characters.)

text = "Don't replace foo*** or **bar, either."

# unmodified text expected

How do I do this? I can probably match the exempted cases as well and use a replacement function to deal with them, but is there a better way?

python regex python-3.x

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

add a comment | 

In Python3, the following code works to replace a string (two or more) of *'s with x's.

import re

re.sub(r'*(?=*)|(?<=*)*', 'x', 'Replace this *** but not this *')

# 'Replace this xxx but not this *'

But what if I also want to exempt a string of *'s that are part of a "word" like the following? (I.e. the string is attached to one or more [a-zA-Z] characters.)

text = "Don't replace foo*** or **bar, either."

# unmodified text expected

How do I do this? I can probably match the exempted cases as well and use a replacement function to deal with them, but is there a better way?

python regex python-3.x

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

import re

re.sub(r'*(?=*)|(?<=*)*', 'x', 'Replace this *** but not this *')

# 'Replace this xxx but not this *'

text = "Don't replace foo*** or **bar, either."

# unmodified text expected

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

share|improve this question

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

edited 3 hours ago

0m3r

8,02292554

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

asked 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

7

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"

This matches 2 or more * chars, surrounded by whitespace (or ended with a newline)

Call it maybe like this?

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"





def replacer(match):

    return 'x' * len(match.group())



re.sub(regex, replacer, your_string_here)

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You gave me a good idea for the use of the replacer function, but your pattern, by including the spaces in the match, would seem to turn this **** string into this******string, which is not I want. It would also not replace **** this string, which I do want to replace. That said, I now have a solution that works thanks to you. Thank you.
  
  – bongbang
  3 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

This answer is inspired Danielle M.'s. This pattern below seems to give me what I want. The rest is the same as hers.

regex = r'(?<![a-zA-Z])*{2,}(?![a-zA-Z])'

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

add a comment | 

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7

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"

This matches 2 or more * chars, surrounded by whitespace (or ended with a newline)

Call it maybe like this?

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"





def replacer(match):

    return 'x' * len(match.group())



re.sub(regex, replacer, your_string_here)

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You gave me a good idea for the use of the replacer function, but your pattern, by including the spaces in the match, would seem to turn this **** string into this******string, which is not I want. It would also not replace **** this string, which I do want to replace. That said, I now have a solution that works thanks to you. Thank you.
  
  – bongbang
  3 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"

This matches 2 or more * chars, surrounded by whitespace (or ended with a newline)

Call it maybe like this?

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"





def replacer(match):

    return 'x' * len(match.group())



re.sub(regex, replacer, your_string_here)

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You gave me a good idea for the use of the replacer function, but your pattern, by including the spaces in the match, would seem to turn this **** string into this******string, which is not I want. It would also not replace **** this string, which I do want to replace. That said, I now have a solution that works thanks to you. Thank you.
  
  – bongbang
  3 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"

This matches 2 or more * chars, surrounded by whitespace (or ended with a newline)

Call it maybe like this?

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"





def replacer(match):

    return 'x' * len(match.group())



re.sub(regex, replacer, your_string_here)

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"

regex = r"s*{2,}[sn]"





def replacer(match):

    return 'x' * len(match.group())



re.sub(regex, replacer, your_string_here)

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

answered 3 hours ago

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,2051623

0

This answer is inspired Danielle M.'s. This pattern below seems to give me what I want. The rest is the same as hers.

regex = r'(?<![a-zA-Z])*{2,}(?![a-zA-Z])'

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

add a comment | 

0

This answer is inspired Danielle M.'s. This pattern below seems to give me what I want. The rest is the same as hers.

regex = r'(?<![a-zA-Z])*{2,}(?![a-zA-Z])'

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

add a comment | 

This answer is inspired Danielle M.'s. This pattern below seems to give me what I want. The rest is the same as hers.

regex = r'(?<![a-zA-Z])*{2,}(?![a-zA-Z])'

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

regex = r'(?<![a-zA-Z])*{2,}(?![a-zA-Z])'

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720

answered 3 hours ago

bongbangbongbang

607720