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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 Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

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asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

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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 Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

8,45099 gold badges2525 silver badges5555 bronze badges

asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

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 Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

8,45099 gold badges2525 silver badges5555 bronze badges

asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

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 Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

8,45099 gold badges2525 silver badges5555 bronze badges

asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

8,45099 gold badges2525 silver badges5555 bronze badges

asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

edited Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

8,45099 gold badges2525 silver badges5555 bronze badges

edited Mar 28 at 2:23

0m3r

8,45099 gold badges2525 silver badges5555 bronze badges

asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

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asked Mar 28 at 2:04

bongbangbongbang

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

8

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 Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  Mar 28 at 2:40
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

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 Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

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add a comment | 

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8

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 Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  Mar 28 at 2:40
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

8

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 Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  Mar 28 at 2:40
  
  

  
  
  
  

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 Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

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 Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

answered Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

answered Mar 28 at 2:16

Danielle M.Danielle M.

2,54211 gold badge77 silver badges2323 bronze badges

1

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 Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

add a comment | 

1

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 Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

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 Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

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

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

answered Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges

answered Mar 28 at 2:45

bongbangbongbang

68577 silver badges2222 bronze badges