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paulferree
Known Participant
August 30, 2008
Question

Removing Whitespace from within a string

  • August 30, 2008
  • 4 replies
  • 4457 views
I have a string that I'm trying to remove any HTML existing within it.

Here is the REReplace:
<cfset VARIABLES.stripped_content = REReplaceNoCase(getevents.calevent_content,"<[^>]*>","","ALL") >

After this I'm trying to output the first 97 characters of the screen as preview text...however that reg replace leaves a ton of whitespace that appears to be messing up my Left() function.

How do I get rid of all that whitespace generated from the rereplace??

Thanks!!
Paul
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    4 replies

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    paulferreeAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 2, 2008
    Well..I thought I tried that previously but apparently I just copy and pasted the REReplace...which obviously wouldn't work. I didn't realize it until your comment. So I tried it and it does better, but there is still some undesired spaces. I'll just deal with it, it's just trying to compensate for some legacy DB entries.

    Thanks!
    Paul
    P
    paulferreeAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 2, 2008
    hmm.. maybe thats the problem then. I'm running CF 6.1 or something.
    -
    -__cfSearching__-
    Inspiring
    September 2, 2008
    paulferree wrote:
    > hmm.. maybe thats the problem then. I'm running CF 6.1 or something.

    Perhaps. I am not aware of any behavior differences with 6.1. The only whitespace issues I can think of are related to cffunctions and occasional strange behavior when output="true".

    In the worth a shot category, you might try a plain replace(...). Replace two spaces consecutive spaces with a single space.
    P
    paulferreeAuthor
    Known Participant
    August 30, 2008
    No, it's literally:

    <cfset VARIABLES.stripped_content = REReplaceNoCase(getevents.calevent_content,"<[^>]*>","","ALL") > <cfoutput>#Left(VARIABLES.stripped_content,97)#</cfoutput>

    I do need to say that the whitespace isn't viewable on the browser, but in the code view I see it...and when I run the Left() function it seems to be including the whitespace in the count...which is the problem.

    -
    -__cfSearching__-
    Inspiring
    August 30, 2008
    > I do need to say that the whitespace isn't viewable on the browser, but in the code view I see it.

    Yes, I understand. I tried your expression and it does not add any extra whitespace for me. If you run these lines, what results do you get?

    <cfsavecontent variable="getevents.calevent_content">
    This is plain text <br class="clear-both"> with some html <h4>thrown in</h4> from
    time to literal time ..<p class="time stamp-date">08/30/2008 12:18:17 PM</p>
    </cfsavecontent>

    <!--- trim the value _before_ the regex --->
    <cfset VARIABLES.stripped_content = REReplaceNoCase(Trim(getevents.calevent_content),"<[^>]*>","","ALL") >
    <cfoutput>
    length = #len(VARIABLES.stripped_content)#<br>
    <pre>|#VARIABLES.stripped_content#|</pre><br>
    left(97) = #left(VARIABLES.stripped_content, 97)#
    </cfoutput>
    P
    paulferreeAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 1, 2008
    Your example went fine..but when I replaced your HTML with a snippet of the actual HTML being evaluated I get the same problem...here it is.

    The Code:

    =======
    <cfsavecontent variable="getevents.calevent_content">
    <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">
    <font color="#d3d3d3">
    <font face="Arial">
    <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">9am-1:30pm<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /??><o:p></o:p></span>
    <font size="2">
    </font>

    </font>
    </font>
    </p>
    <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">
    <font color="#d3d3d3">
    <font face="Arial">
    <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Contact:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some Name @ 555-555-5555<o:p></o:p></span>

    <font size="2">
    </font>
    </font>
    </font>
    </p>
    </cfsavecontent>

    <!--- trim the value _before_ the regex --->
    <cfset VARIABLES.stripped_content = REReplaceNoCase(Trim(getevents.calevent_content),"<[^>]*>","","ALL") >
    <cfoutput>
    length = #len(VARIABLES.stripped_content)#<br>
    <pre>|#VARIABLES.stripped_content#|</pre><br>
    left(97) = #left(VARIABLES.stripped_content, 97)#
    </cfoutput>
    =======

    The Output (notice the whitespace):
    =======

    length = 180

    |


    9am-1:30pm









    Contact: Some Name @ 555-555-5555





    |


    left(97) = 9am-1:30pm
    =======

    Could have something to do with that UGLY HTML that I have to work with. However, in ASP this was outputted on the legacy site using:

    <%# this.GetChars(Eval("content") as String, 75) %>

    Seemed to work ok but I can't really test it.

    Thanks!
    Paul
    -
    -__cfSearching__-
    Inspiring
    August 30, 2008
    paulferree wrote:
    > How do I get rid of all that whitespace generated from the rereplace??

    I suspect it is not the rereplace. Are you using a cffunction by any chance?
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