vi + regexp + substitute

Lomic · #1 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

Another enigma (for me)

Using VI I edit some files in which I want to erase many lines I don't need anymore

usually I do something like that:

Code:

:%s/line_to_suppress//g

and it is doing fine

but in this case, the pattern to erase contains some special characters

so I do it like that:

Code:

:%s#line_to_suppress_with_special_characters##g

but, the only problem left is that I can't predict what will be the beginning of the line so I wish I could do something like that:

Code:

:%s/*line_to_suppress//g

but of course if I protect the pattern with # to prevent special characters to annoy me... the * don't work anymore

the best way would be to suppress each line containing my pattern, but I don't know how to do that

I'm sure it's pretty easy for many among you, so if one have a bit of time, it would help me a lot

Thanx

zazzybob · #2 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

I'm not too sure that I follow - but you can supress the interpretation of metacharacters by backslash escaping them...

e.g.

Code:

:%s/^.*my_patter_has_special_chars\*\/\$\^_in_it.*$//

As you can see, the .* at the beginning and end of line are still treated as metacharacters (as are the anchors).

Cheers
ZB

Lomic · #3 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by zazzybob
you can supress the interpretation of metacharacters by backslash escaping them...

e.g.

Code:

:%s/^.*my_patter_has_special_chars\*\/\$\^_in_it.*$//

As you can see, the .* at the beginning and end of line are still treated as metacharacters (as are the anchors).

ok but my_pattern_has_special_chars looks like

Code:

blabla 'toto' rep:/titi/toto/

so I protect it between #

if I understand what you mean, I should do like this:

Code:

:%s/^.*blabla\ \'toto\'\ rep\:\/titi\/toto\///

Am I right? (if it is the case, it si ok because my pattern never change)

zazzybob · #4 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Lomic
if I understand what you mean, I should do like this:

Code:

:%s/^.*blabla\ \'toto\'\ rep\:\/titi\/toto\///

Am I right? (if it is the case, it si ok because my pattern never change)

Looking at that, all you really need to do is

Code:

:%s/^.*blabla 'toto' rep:\/titi\/toto\///

i.e. it's only the slashes that need to be escaped.

Cheers
ZB

Lomic · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by zazzybob
i.e. it's only the slashes that need to be escaped.

you're right, it is nearly ok now! (good step forward for me)

but one more question

it erase the lines, but it doesn't suppress them...

any hint?

zazzybob · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

What do you mean suppress?

Cheers
ZB

Lomic · #7 (**permalink**) 12-10-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by zazzybob
What do you mean suppress?

File before:
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
blabla 'toto' rep:/titi/toto/
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
blabla 'toto' rep:/titi/toto
/blabla 'toto' rep:/titi/toto/
xxxxxxxxxxx
blabla 'toto' rep:/titi/toto/
blabla 'toto' rep:/titi/toto/
xxxxxxxxxxx

File after:
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxx

Result I wish to have:
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx

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