How Can I Do a Replace for EACH RegEx Match Found, as it is Found?

Questions & Suggestions
,
1

###How Can I Do a Replace for EACH RegEx Match Found, as it is Found?

###Use Case

  • I have a string with a number of substrings that have the same pattern
  • I need replace each occurrence (match) with an individual result, which requires a formula and/or a function (or multiple KM Actions to calculate the replacement)
  • Examples:
    • Replace all dates in one format with another format
    • Increment a seq# at the end of a string
  • For a real example, see this KM Topic: Replacing Substrings in Clipboard or Variable.

###JavaScript Solution
This is easily done in JavaScript

var sourceData = `
test1 on line 1
line that should not match 2
test25 on line 3
another line no match 4
test3 on line 5
another no match 6
`
var reTestNum = /^(test)(\d+)/gm;

//--- ADD 10 TO Number AFTER 'test' ---
var updatedData = sourceData.replace(reTestNum, function ($0, $1, $2) {
  var num = parseInt($2, 10) + 10;
  return $1 + num;
  });
  
  console.log(updatedData);
  
  //--- RESULTS  ---
  
  /* 
test11 on line 1
line that should not match 2
test35 on line 3
another line no match 4
test13 on line 5
another no match 6
 */

But I have been unable to design a KM solution that does not use a script.

Any ideas?

What I need is a way to update the source string for each match that is found in a KM For Each action (KM Wiki):

###This is What I'd Like to To Do
but is NOT currently supported.

Is there another way to accomplish this?

2

You can do a two-step regex:

[test] Replace Match with Calculation.kmmacros (5.5 KB)

3

Thanks, Tom.

I had thought about that approach but wasn't sure how to just update each match. Building a new string with all data solves that issue.

Still, it feels more like a workaround than a true solution. It takes a lot more steps than the JavaScript solution.

I think until/if @peternlewis gives us the capability to do a direct replacement as I showed in my proposed new Action, I'll just use JavaScript. When I have time, maybe I'll try to build a more general purpose solution using source data and regex pattern from KM variables.

4

There is no particularly good way to do this in Keyboard Maestro.

It is essentially the equivalent of the /e switch in Perl regex, or using a function in JavaScript or whatever. That is, search and replace where the result is calculated.

Keyboard Maestro does not have this facility. Yet. Anywhere except on my Mac anyway.

20170604-124150.png1186×458 45.4 KB

3 Likes
5

In lieu of Discourse providing Slack-style reaction-moji, let me just say: :open_mouth:

I look forward to rewriting my Japanese date converter macro that inspired this topic once this facility becomes available on all Macs running the latest KM :smile:

1 Like
6

Done, and I have to say, I think it turned out nicely: Tips: Show Examples of How KM8's New Features Have Improved Your Macros/Workflow - #3 by gglick?

1 Like
7

As noted, this is done in Keyboard Maestro 8.