I am trying to implement search whole word only in VBScript, I tried appeding characters like space, /, ],) etc. as these characters means end of word. I need to do as many search as the number of characters I want to include using or operator. Is there any way to do it easily in VBScript.
Currently I am doing :-
w_seachString =
searchString & " " or
searchString & "/" or
searchString & "]" or
searchString & ")" or
searchString & "}" or
searchString & "," or
searchString & "."
So eventually I am comparing with lots of combination and looking for an effective way to make my variable w_seachString able to search for whole word only.
Use a regular expression with a word boundary anchor. Demo:
Option Explicit
Function qq(s) : qq = """" & s & """" : End Function
Dim r : Set r = New RegExp
r.Pattern = "\bx\b"
Dim s
For Each s In Split("axb| x |ax|x|\x/|", "|")
WScript.Echo qq(s), CStr(r.Test(s))
Next
output:
cscript 36443611.vbs
"axb" False
" x " True
"ax" False
"x" True
"\x/" True
"" False
Related
I have this code:
a = "xyz"
g = "abcd " & a
After running it, the value of g is abcd xyz.
However, I want quotes around the value of a in g. After running the code, g should be abcd "xyz" instead.
How can I accomplish this?
You can escape by doubling the quotes
g="abcd """ & a & """"
or write an explicit chr() call
g="abcd " & chr(34) & a & chr(34)
You have to use double double quotes to escape the double quotes (lol):
g = "abcd """ & a & """"
I usually do this:
Const Q = """"
Dim a, g
a = "xyz"
g = "abcd " & Q & a & Q
If you need to wrap strings in quotes more often in your code and find the above approach noisy or unreadable, you can also wrap it in a function:
a = "xyz"
g = "abcd " & Q(a)
Function Q(s)
Q = """" & s & """"
End Function
The traditional way to specify quotes is to use Chr(34). This is error resistant and is not an abomination.
Chr(34) & "string" & Chr(34)
You can do like:
a="""xyz"""
g="abcd " & a
Or:
a=chr(34) & "xyz" & chr(34)
g="abcd " & a
I don't think I can improve on these answers as I've used them all, but my preference is declaring a constant and using that as it can be a real pain if you have a long string and try to accommodate with the correct number of quotes and make a mistake. ;)
I designed a simple approach using single quotes when forming the strings and then calling a function that replaces single quotes with double quotes.
Of course this approach works as long as you don't need to include actual single quotes inside your string.
Function Q(s)
Q = Replace(s,"'","""")
End Function
...
user="myself"
code ="70234"
level ="C"
r="{'User':'" & user & "','Code':'" & code & "','Level':'" & level & "'}"
r = Q(r)
response.write r
...
Hope this helps.
I found the answer to use double and triple quotation marks unsatisfactory. I used a nested DO...LOOP to write an ASP segment of code. There are repeated quotation marks within the string. When I ran the code:
thestring = "<asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom=""" & bottom & """ HotSpotMode=""PostBack"" Left="""& left & """ PostBackValue=""" &xx & "." & yy & """ Right=""" & right & """ Top=""" & top & """/>"
the output was:
<`asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom="28
'Changing the code to the explicit chr() call worked:
thestring = "<asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom=""" & bottom & chr(34) & " HotSpotMode=""PostBack"" Left="""& left & chr(34) & " PostBackValue=""" &xx & "." & yy & chr(34) & " Right=""" & right & chr(34) & " Top=""" & top & chr(34) &"/>"
The output:
<asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom="28" HotSpotMode="PostBack" Left="0" PostBackValue="0.0" Right="29" Top="0"/>
I have search over SO but cant find similar topic so I have decided to write one. I would like to have a command in my Windows batch file .bat that can replace content of 1 or more files with wildcard masks. For example:
replace *.txt "searchin? str?ng*" "replacing string"
Can someone let me know if that is possible?
Many Thanks,
Windows does not have a native command line tool (except for perhaps PowerShell) that can do this. But there are Windows ports of unix utilities like sed that could do the job well. Any utility that supports regular expression search and replace would work well, though the syntax for wildcards is not what you have in your example. Regular expressions are extremely powerful, and you will want to read some tutorials on how to use them. There are many tutorials available on the web.
I have written a hybrid JScript/batch utility called REPL.BAT that performs a regular expression search/replace on stdin and writes the result to stdout. The utility is pure script that will run natively on any modern Windows machine from XP onward. Full documentation is embedded within the script.
Using REPL.BAT, your example could be implemented as:
#echo off
for %%F in (*.txt) do (
type "%%F" | repl "searchin. str.ng.*" "replacing string" >"%%F.new"
move /Y "%%F.new" "%%F"
)
Note that ? (any 1 character) in your question is expressed as . in a regular expression, and * (any 0 or more characters) is expressed as .*.
The above could easily be converted into a general purpose REPLACE.BAT "command".
#echo off
for %%F in (%1) do (
type "%%F" | repl %2 %3 >"%%F.new"
move /Y "%%F.new" "%%F"
)
Then the above would be called using:
replace *.txt "searchin. str.ng.*" "replacing string"
This assumes that both REPL.BAT and REPLACE.BAT are either in your current directory, or else somewhere within your PATH.
This is a vbs program.
ReplaceRegEx.vbs Filename SearchString [ReplaceString]
This is the code.
On Error Resume Next
Set ShellApp = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
ReportErrors "Creating Shell.App"
set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
ReportErrors "Creating Wscript.Shell"
Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments
ReportErrors "Creating Wscript.Arg"
Set regEx = New RegExp
ReportErrors "Creating RegEx"
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
ReportErrors "Creating FSO"
If objArgs.Count = 0 then
MsgBox "No parameters", 16, "Serenity's ReplaceRegExp"
ReportErrors "Help"
ElseIf objArgs.Count = 1 then
MsgBox "Only one parameter", 16, "Serenity's ReplaceRegExp"
ReportErrors "Help"
ElseIf objArgs.Count = 2 then
Set srcfile = fso.GetFile(objArgs(0))
ReportErrors "srcFile"
If err.number = 0 then Set TS = srcFile.OpenAsTextStream(1, 0)
If err.number <> 0 then
Msgbox err.description & " " & srcFile.path, 48, "Serenity's Search"
err.clear
else
ReportErrors "TS" & " " & srcFile.path
Src=ts.readall
If err.number = 62 then
err.clear
else
ReportErrors "ReadTS" & " " & srcFile.path
regEx.Pattern = objArgs(1)
regEx.IgnoreCase = True
regEx.Global = True
If regEx.Test(Src) = True then
Msgbox "Found in " & srcfile.path, 64, "Serenity's Search"
End If
End If
End If
ReportErrors "Check OK" & " " & srcFile.path
Elseif objArgs.count = 3 then
Set srcfile = fso.GetFile(objArgs(0))
ReportErrors "srcFile"
If err.number = 0 then Set TS = srcFile.OpenAsTextStream(1, 0)
If err.number <> 0 then
Msgbox err.description & " " & srcFile.path, 48, "Serenity's Search"
err.clear
else
ReportErrors "TS" & " " & srcFile.path
Src=ts.readall
If err.number = 62 then
err.clear
else
ReportErrors "ReadTS" & " " & srcFile.path
regEx.Pattern = objArgs(1)
regEx.IgnoreCase = True
regEx.Global = True
NewSrc= regEx.Replace(Src, objArgs(2))
If NewSrc<>Src then
Msgbox "Replacement made in " & srcfile.path, 64, "Serenity's Search"
TS.close
Set TS = srcFile.OpenAsTextStream(2, 0)
ts.write newsrc
ReportErrors "Writing file"
End If
End If
End If
ReportErrors "Check OK" & " " & srcFile.path
Else
MsgBox "Too many parameters", 16, "Serenity's ReplaceRegExp"
ReportErrors "Help"
ReportErrors "All Others"
End If
Sub ReportErrors(strModuleName)
If err.number<>0 then Msgbox "An unexpected error occurred. This dialog provides details on the error." & vbCRLF & vbCRLF & "Error Details " & vbCRLF & vbCRLF & "Script Name" & vbTab & Wscript.ScriptFullName & vbCRLF & "Module" & vbtab & vbTab & strModuleName & vbCRLF & "Error Number" & vbTab & err.number & vbCRLF & "Description" & vbTab & err.description, vbCritical + vbOKOnly, "Something unexpected"
Err.clear
End Sub
These are the rules.
Special characters and sequences are used in writing patterns for regular expressions. The following table describes and gives an example of the characters and sequences that can be used.
Character Description
\
Marks the next character as either a special character or a literal. For example, "n" matches the character "n". "\n" matches a newline character. The sequence "\\" matches "\" and "\(" matches "(".
^
Matches the beginning of input.
$
Matches the end of input.
*
Matches the preceding character zero or more times. For example, "zo*" matches either "z" or "zoo".
+
Matches the preceding character one or more times. For example, "zo+" matches "zoo" but not "z".
?
Matches the preceding character zero or one time. For example, "a?ve?" matches the "ve" in "never".
.
Matches any single character except a newline character.
(pattern)
Matches pattern and remembers the match. The matched substring can be retrieved from the resulting Matches collection, using Item [0]...[n]. To match parentheses characters ( ), use "\(" or "\)".
x|y
Matches either x or y. For example, "z|wood" matches "z" or "wood". "(z|w)oo" matches "zoo" or "wood".
{n}
n is a nonnegative integer. Matches exactly n times. For example, "o{2}" does not match the "o" in "Bob," but matches the first two o's in "foooood".
{n,}
n is a nonnegative integer. Matches at least n times. For example, "o{2,}" does not match the "o" in "Bob" and matches all the o's in "foooood." "o{1,}" is equivalent to "o+". "o{0,}" is equivalent to "o*".
{ n , m }
m and n are nonnegative integers. Matches at least n and at most m times. For example, "o{1,3}" matches the first three o's in "fooooood." "o{0,1}" is equivalent to "o?".
[ xyz ]
A character set. Matches any one of the enclosed characters. For example, "[abc]" matches the "a" in "plain".
[^ xyz ]
A negative character set. Matches any character not enclosed. For example, "[^abc]" matches the "p" in "plain".
[ a-z ]
A range of characters. Matches any character in the specified range. For example, "[a-z]" matches any lowercase alphabetic character in the range "a" through "z".
[^ m-z ]
A negative range characters. Matches any character not in the specified range. For example, "[m-z]" matches any character not in the range "m" through "z".
\b
Matches a word boundary, that is, the position between a word and a space. For example, "er\b" matches the "er" in "never" but not the "er" in "verb".
\B
Matches a non-word boundary. "ea*r\B" matches the "ear" in "never early".
\d
Matches a digit character. Equivalent to [0-9].
\D
Matches a non-digit character. Equivalent to [^0-9].
\f
Matches a form-feed character.
\n
Matches a newline character.
\r
Matches a carriage return character.
\s
Matches any white space including space, tab, form-feed, etc. Equivalent to "[ \f\n\r\t\v]".
\S
Matches any nonwhite space character. Equivalent to "[^ \f\n\r\t\v]".
\t
Matches a tab character.
\v
Matches a vertical tab character.
\w
Matches any word character including underscore. Equivalent to "[A-Za-z0-9_]".
\W
Matches any non-word character. Equivalent to "[^A-Za-z0-9_]".
\num
Matches num, where num is a positive integer. A reference back to remembered matches. For example, "(.)\1" matches two consecutive identical characters.
\ n
Matches n, where n is an octal escape value. Octal escape values must be 1, 2, or 3 digits long. For example, "\11" and "\011" both match a tab character. "\0011" is the equivalent of "\001" & "1". Octal escape values must not exceed 256. If they do, only the first two digits comprise the expression. Allows ASCII codes to be used in regular expressions.
\xn
Matches n, where n is a hexadecimal escape value. Hexadecimal escape values must be exactly two digits long. For example, "\x41" matches "A". "\x041" is equivalent to "\x04" & "1". Allows ASCII codes to be used in regular expressions.
strTarget = "C:\My Name\K.jpg"
as you can see there is a space in the address which is stored in strTarget, Now I\m trying to pass it to an application, but it won't work because there is space in address :(
TargetApp.Run """C:\My App\here.exe"" " & strTarget ,,true
if I change strTarget into "C:\MyName\K.jpg" which does not have space it will work.
How to solve this problem?
You need to add double quotes around the image path the same way you did around the executable path:
TargetApp.Run """C:\My App\here.exe"" """ & strTarget & """" ,,true
I usually recommend using a quoting function for this, because it significantly increases the readability:
Function qq(str) : qq = Chr(34) & str & Chr(34) : End Function
app = "C:\My App\here.exe"
img = "C:\My Name\K.jpg"
TargetApp.Run qq(app) & " " & qq(img), 0, True
strCode = "Private Sub AcclvsTime() " & vbCr _
& "Set myChtObj = oExcelWriteWorkSheet.ChartObjects.Add(100,375,75,225) "& vbCr _
& "myChtObj.Chart.ChartType = 4 " & vbCr _
& "myChtObj.Chart.SetSourceData objWriteWorkbook.Sheets("sheet2").Range("A1:B15")" & vbCr _
& "End Sub"
objWriteExcel.VBE.ActiveVBProject.VBComponents.Item("Sheet1").CodeModule.AddFromString(strCode)
When I executed this code i got the error “end of the statement expected in line 4” (& "myChtObj.Chart.SetSourceData objWriteWorkbook.Sheets("sheet2").Range("A1:B15")" & vbCr _)
Can any one help me where is the mistake?
#paxdiablo: I would comment, but don't see a comment button.
Notice, though, the second quote from Range("A1:B15")" & vbCr is started from "myChtObj.Chart.SetSourceData
Having the full block of code would help better, as we can't tell what kind of end statement you will need. I.e, your "End Sub" is in double quotes. If that's the end of the sub, you need to take them out.
Building strings by concatenation is cumbersome and errorprone. Especially, if the result is a multiline string, use Join:
strCode = Join( Array( _
"Private Sub AcclvsTime()" _
, " Set myChtObj = oExcelWriteWorkSheet.ChartObjects.Add(100,375,75,225)" _
, " myChtObj.Chart.ChartType = 4" _
, " myChtObj.Chart.SetSourceData objWriteWorkbook.Sheets(""sheet2"").Range(""A1:B15"")" _
, "End Sub" _
), vbCrLf)
WScript.Echo strCode
output:
Private Sub AcclvsTime()
Set myChtObj = oExcelWriteWorkSheet.ChartObjects.Add(100,375,75,225)
myChtObj.Chart.ChartType = 4
myChtObj.Chart.SetSourceData objWriteWorkbook.Sheets("sheet2").Range("A1:B15")
End Sub
to reduce the noise caused by & and the repeating stuff vbCr(Lf). That will improve your chances to see the problems/mistakes. (Exactly two literals - "sheet2", "A1:B15" - to quote).
Addional Remark:
Given that the culprit is:
"whatever("sheet2").Range("A1:B15")"
it is obvious, that remedy
"whatever(""sheet2"").Range(""A1:B15"")"
is easier to read/check/write and less errorprone than
"whatever(" & Chr(24) & "sheet2" & Crh(34) & ").Range(" & Chr(34) + "A1:B15" & Chr(32) & ")"
Avoiding "" in literals by splicing in & Chr(34) &s is a bad strategy.
" ... Range("A1:B15")" & vbCr
Note those quotes within quotes on your fourth line (for both "sheet2" and "A1:B15") - you need to fix that.
If you want to put quotes within quotes, you can do it thus, by escaping. Two consecutive " characters within a double-quoted string will be translated to a single ".
"the word ""xyzzy"" is quoted"
Alternatively, you can also use chr(34) to get the quote:
"the word " & chr(34) & "xyzzy" & chr(34) & " is quoted"
This may be preferable in more complex cases, though I've rarely had a need for it.
I have this code:
a = "xyz"
g = "abcd " & a
After running it, the value of g is abcd xyz.
However, I want quotes around the value of a in g. After running the code, g should be abcd "xyz" instead.
How can I accomplish this?
You can escape by doubling the quotes
g="abcd """ & a & """"
or write an explicit chr() call
g="abcd " & chr(34) & a & chr(34)
You have to use double double quotes to escape the double quotes (lol):
g = "abcd """ & a & """"
I usually do this:
Const Q = """"
Dim a, g
a = "xyz"
g = "abcd " & Q & a & Q
If you need to wrap strings in quotes more often in your code and find the above approach noisy or unreadable, you can also wrap it in a function:
a = "xyz"
g = "abcd " & Q(a)
Function Q(s)
Q = """" & s & """"
End Function
The traditional way to specify quotes is to use Chr(34). This is error resistant and is not an abomination.
Chr(34) & "string" & Chr(34)
You can do like:
a="""xyz"""
g="abcd " & a
Or:
a=chr(34) & "xyz" & chr(34)
g="abcd " & a
I don't think I can improve on these answers as I've used them all, but my preference is declaring a constant and using that as it can be a real pain if you have a long string and try to accommodate with the correct number of quotes and make a mistake. ;)
I designed a simple approach using single quotes when forming the strings and then calling a function that replaces single quotes with double quotes.
Of course this approach works as long as you don't need to include actual single quotes inside your string.
Function Q(s)
Q = Replace(s,"'","""")
End Function
...
user="myself"
code ="70234"
level ="C"
r="{'User':'" & user & "','Code':'" & code & "','Level':'" & level & "'}"
r = Q(r)
response.write r
...
Hope this helps.
I found the answer to use double and triple quotation marks unsatisfactory. I used a nested DO...LOOP to write an ASP segment of code. There are repeated quotation marks within the string. When I ran the code:
thestring = "<asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom=""" & bottom & """ HotSpotMode=""PostBack"" Left="""& left & """ PostBackValue=""" &xx & "." & yy & """ Right=""" & right & """ Top=""" & top & """/>"
the output was:
<`asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom="28
'Changing the code to the explicit chr() call worked:
thestring = "<asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom=""" & bottom & chr(34) & " HotSpotMode=""PostBack"" Left="""& left & chr(34) & " PostBackValue=""" &xx & "." & yy & chr(34) & " Right=""" & right & chr(34) & " Top=""" & top & chr(34) &"/>"
The output:
<asp:RectangleHotSpot Bottom="28" HotSpotMode="PostBack" Left="0" PostBackValue="0.0" Right="29" Top="0"/>