C# Regex replace with Regex

Question

I have a problem, I want to replace every "[[:de:<text>]]" with "{{de|<text>}}" in some text. I tried with

output = Regex.Replace(input, "[[:de:(.*)]]", "{{de|(.*)}}");

but it doesnt copy the <text>. I have no other idea how to replace this correctly. Hope you can help me.

Use String.Replace. If you don't want it to treat "[[:de:(.*)]]" as a regex, don't ask it to. — 15ee8f99-57ff-4f92-890c-b56153
– 15ee8f99-57ff-4f92-890c-b56153, Commented Apr 14, 2017 at 15:06

Wiktor Stribiżew · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-14 15:25:26Z

2

Use a lazy dot pattern and backreferences and escape the [ symbols:

output = Regex.Replace(input, @"\[\[:de:(.*?)]]", "{{de|$1}}");

If the text between de: and ]] can contain line breaks, use RegexOptions.Singleline modifier.

See the regex demo.

edited Apr 14, 2017 at 15:25

answered Apr 14, 2017 at 15:11

Wiktor Stribiżew

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3 Comments

Wiktor Stribiżew Over a year ago

Also, see Substitutions in Regular Expressions for more details on .NET replacement backreferences.

aloisdg Over a year ago

You miss the @ before the pattern.

Wiktor Stribiżew Over a year ago

@aloisdg: Sure, fixed.

aloisdg · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-14 15:19:17Z

0

If you encapsulate everything inside groups, you can benefit of a MatchEvaluator. Try it online.

public static void Main()
{
    var input = "[[:de:Hello World]]";
    var pattern = @"(\[\[:de:)(.+)(\]\])";
    var output = Regex.Replace(input, pattern, m => "{{de|" +  m.Groups[2].Value + "}}");
    Console.WriteLine(output);
}

output

{{de|Hello World}}

edited Apr 14, 2017 at 15:19

answered Apr 14, 2017 at 15:16

aloisdg

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2 Comments

Wiktor Stribiżew Over a year ago

Match evaluator can be saved for more complex scenarios, replacement backreferences are enough here. The greedy dot will also mess the output that contains several matches on a single line.

aloisdg Over a year ago

@WiktorStribiżew I agree.

Orhun Karapinar · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-14 15:52:36Z

0

Do you really need regex ? I think you can only use string replace method;

output = input.Replace("[[:de:(.*)]]", "{{de|(.*)}}");

answered Apr 14, 2017 at 15:52

Orhun Karapinar

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1 Comment

aloisdg Over a year ago

(.*) is a regex. OP wants to replace [[:de:Hello World]] to {{de|Hello World}}.

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