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I would like to replace a two-line string not ending in digit with a one line string. For example, replacing the following two-line string:
Extensions of the Single—Sa1e
Model 414
With a one line string:
Extensions of the Single—Sa1e Model 414
Using M-x replace-regexp.
My regex pattern to match is [^[:digit:]]^J, but I don't know how to capture the non digit part and then refer it in the replace string. How can I do this? Also, how can I specify the new line character?
Type the newline char using C-q C-j. Capture parts of the match that you want using regexp groups. Reuse such group matches using \N syntax.
M-x replace-regexp RET \([^:digit:]]\) C-q C-j \(.+\) RET \1 \2 RET
So you enter 3 things, with RET: the command name, the regexp, and the replacement. The replacement uses \N syntax to reuse groups.
If you want to write a command that does this, you write a quick-and-dirty one that just calls what is written above (with backslashes doubled and with "\n" in place of C-q C-j). But if you want to write a command as it should be written, you would use write a loop that calls re-search-forward to find a match and then calls replace-match to replace it. See the Elisp manual, nodes Regexp Search and Replacing Match.
M-x replace-regexp? (2) How can I run your function?
– Tim
Dec 2 '14 at 23:12
replace-regexp in Lisp code anyway. Interactively, you don't double the backslashes, and you use C-q C-j to insert a newline char in the minibuffer.
– Drew
Dec 3 '14 at 0:54
M-x foo RET. It was just intended as a short way to show how to use the arguments, but showing it probably confused more than it clarified.
– Drew
Dec 3 '14 at 1:07
foo first, so that M-x foo RET will work? How to?
– Tim
Dec 3 '14 at 1:17
This does not answer your question, since you asked for a regexp to do it, but I think it's worth mentioning that the same can be done easily using a keyboard macro. Start recording with F3, search for the regexp with C-s M-r [^[:digit:]]^J <RET>, press Backspace to join the lines and F4 to finish the macro. Then repeat by pressing F4 until all lines are joined.
