Re: regexp with match over multiple lines

[Andreas Röhler]

Am 05.05.2011 20:17, schrieb AngusC:
> Andreas Röhler wrote:
> > Am 05.05.2011 11:05, schrieb AngusC:
> > > I want to remove all instances of<![CDATA[ ... ]]>   data in a file.  My
> > > regexp works if the start and end tag is on the same line.  But not if
> > > the
> > > end tag is not on this same line.  Is it possible to apply regex across
> > > multiple lines.
> > >
> > > My regex is:<\!\[CDATA\[.*\]\]>   and that works if all on one line.
> > >
> > > What can I do?  Is this where lisp required?
> > >
> > > Angus
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > when dealing with expressions characterized by a start- and end
> > string, quite often a little function is convenient:
> >
> > Below a simplified example:
> >
> > (setq startstring "abc")
> > (setq endstring "def")
> >
> > (defun my-start-end-delete ()
> >     " "
> >     (interactive "*")
> >     (let (beg)
> >       (while (search-forward startstring nil (quote move) 1)
> >         (setq beg (match-beginning 0))
> >         (when (search-forward endstring nil (quote move) 1)
> >           (delete-region beg (match-end 0))))))
> >
> > abcABCDEFdefAAAAAAAAAA ->  AAAAAAAAAA
>
> I am thinking I probably need to learn lisp to have real power.  More regex
> would probably help.

For me pleasure started when having some Emacs Lisp.

Before it was promising - afterward great :)

Cheers