[Hidden-tech] Versatile Text Editor with Find/Replace macros

[Jan Werner]

Some additional clarifications/comments on my earlier reply:

RegexBuddy (http://www.regexbuddy.com/) is probably the best bet for 
just doing what was described: it allows one to create, debug and test 
regexes, apply them to all files matching a mask (e.g., *.html) in a 
directory or directory tree, with optional backup of the originals, and 
create libraries of actions for later re-use. It can also be run from 
the command-line, allowing search & replace actions to be applied from 
batch files or scripts, or from within other applications.

PowerGREP is similar, but designed for data management professionals who 
understand regular expressions and have more complex requirements. What 
it can do is amazing, but most individual users won't be able to justify 
the price and learning curve.

EditPad Pro is a great text editor and can apply regex macros across 
multiple files, but needs to open them to do so, whereas RegexBuddy, 
which can be used inside EditPad Pro, performs the actions on disk 
directly by means of its built-in GREP (a subset of PowerGREP).

As an aside, the RegexBuddy Manual (not available as a separate 
download) is an excellent resource on regular expressions in general, 
with discussions of the different flavors and reviews of currently 
available books on the topic (with the bias of the author, of course).

Jan Werner
______________

Jan Werner wrote:
>     ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>     ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> I had suggested TopStyle as a HomeSite replacement, but I also mentioned
> EditPad Pro as a more versatile text editor that could do what you want.
> EditPad Pro has the ability to record and organize macros and very
> strong regex capabilities
>
> The author of EditPad. Jan Goyvaerts, wrote the Regular Expressions
> Cookbook (O'Reilly, 2009) and maintains the Regular-Expressions.info
> website (http://www.regular-expressions.info/). His company, JGSoft
> (http://www.just-great-software.com/) publishes a number of Windows
> programs for working with regular expressions, including RegexBuddy
> ($40), a regex editor and debugger, RegexMagic ($40), which lets
> beginners build regular expressions from a GUI, and PowerGREP ($150), a
> powerful search and replace system with automation capabilities. All of
> these work together, so you can, e.g., use RegexBuddy in EditPad Pro.
>
> Both the EditPad Pro and PowerGREP manuals are available in PDF format
> from the download pages for the respective programs.
>
> Jan Werner
> ___________
>
> Stefan Gonick wrote:
>>      ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>      ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>
>>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> Thank you for all of the interesting options for text editors. After exploring
>> them a bit, I see that they all handle my original request. However, I have
>> now gotten clear on a feature that I would really love.
>>
>> I need to clean up files on a regular basis where I would like to run a
>> series of regex find and replace commands. I would like to be able to
>> store these commands into a macro or a set of macros.
>>
>> I tried downloading and playing with Notepad++, but it's macros do not
>> support the find and replace command. The other editors have to be
>> purchased, though they do support a free trial period. Does anyone know
>> if any of these editor will do what I want so that I don't have to download
>> and try out each one of them? The available documentation online doesn't
>> answer my question.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Stefan
>>
>> =====================================================
>> Database WebWorks: Dynamic web sites through database integration
>> http://www.DatabaseWebWorks.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
>> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>>
>> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
>> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
>> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
>> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
>
>