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












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





























    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



























      6












      6








      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
















      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




      python regex python-3.x






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 3 hours ago









      0m3r

      8,02292554




      8,02292554










      asked 3 hours ago









      bongbangbongbang

      607720




      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
























          • 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





















          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























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            2 Answers
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            2 Answers
            2






            active

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            active

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            active

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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
























            • 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


















            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
























            • 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
















            7












            7








            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













            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












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 3 hours ago









            Danielle M.Danielle M.

            2,2051623




            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





















            • 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



















            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







            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















            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




























              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


























                0












                0








                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













                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












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 3 hours ago









                bongbangbongbang

                607720




                607720






























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