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Grep expression to convert written out numbers to actual numbers

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
December 20, 2022
3 replies
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Hi all!

I'm working on a cookbook and need to search the ingredients sections, search for the first word and if it's written out, like twelve, convert it to the number 12. I'm adding the expression to the FindChangeList.txt file so that I can use the FindChangeByList.jsx script.

Right now, I'm at:

grep {findWhat:"^(Twelve)", appliedParagraphStyle:"ingredients"} {changeTo:"12"} {includeFootnotes:true, includeMasterPages:true, includeHiddenLayers:true, wholeWord:false}

Do I need to copy and paste that line for every number? Should I made a csv and do a find a replace based off that? Is there any better way to tackle this?

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Correct answer pixxxelschubser

OK. That's strange. I can't find a download link either.

But I'm very sure you can adapt this:

https://indesign.hilfdirselbst.ch/2009/05/monatsnamen-bei-datumsangaben-in-zahlen-wandeln.html

(The script there converts the name of the month into numbers in dates, such as 12. September 2008, and at the same time inserts 1/8th intervals after the dots. Result --> 12. 9. 2008)

pixxxelschubser

Correct answer

Community Expert

OK. That's strange. I can't find a download link either.

But I'm very sure you can adapt this:

https://indesign.hilfdirselbst.ch/2009/05/monatsnamen-bei-datumsangaben-in-zahlen-wandeln.html

(The script there converts the name of the month into numbers in dates, such as 12. September 2008, and at the same time inserts 1/8th intervals after the dots. Result --> 12. 9. 2008)

K

KellyMSmith1016Author

Participant

Oh! I can totally use this, thank you!!!

pixxxelschubser

Community Expert

Oh! I can totally use this, thank you!!!

By @KellyMSmith1016

I know.

😄

change the words
change the Grep
run the script
ready.

😉

James Gifford—NitroPress

Legend

Honestly... this would seem to be a one-time job for a series of find-and-replaces. Search for [paragraph return][number word] and replace. You could even restrict it to the style used for ingredients, if that would be helpful.

You could be done with "one" through "twenty" in less than a half hour... far less time and effort than finding, writing, adapting and debugging a script you may never need again.

pixxxelschubser

Community Expert

Honestly... this would seem to be a one-time job for a series of find-and-replaces. Search for [paragraph return][number word] and replace. You could even restrict it to the style used for ingredients, if that would be helpful.

You could be done with "one" through "twenty" in less than a half hour... far less time and effort than finding, writing, adapting and debugging a script you may never need again.

By @James Gifford—NitroPress

You are right there, of course.

But in principle it is certainly interesting to see how one can quickly create a functioning script from a "blueprint" (also for similar tasks in the future). And since such scripts already exist - why not?

The other way is similarly fast: Save your individual grep queries and apply the ingenious script ChainGrep.jsx from Gregor Fellenz

James Gifford—NitroPress

Legend

I believe in getting a task done, not spending 3X as much time inventing a way to make it "faster." 🙂

Like most of the tasks for which a script is recommended as a solution, there will need to be painstaking proofreading of the result even after "getting it working" and a few trial runs.

Using Find-and-Replace combines semi-automation, editorial judgment and proofing/review all in one pass. And the task would likely have been completed in the time frame since the OP's first inquiry.

But by all means, if the tool exists, it must exist to be used. 😛

ETA: Lest that sound too harsh, I think we're talking about a spectrum of tasks here. When it's purely layout, style or hard-content changes, GREP and scripts are fantastic tools. Change every instance of a word in context, make sure all sentences are capitalized, replace one set of values with another... great uses.

But if you back up to writing/editorial/content development, which I see the above inquiry to fall within, no amount of script wizardry replaces intelligence and judgment. That task can be scripted, yes, with enough work... but I sure wouldn't send the doc off to publication without very close proofing to make sure some unexpected combination of words in other places weren't changed. Or that it got every instance because in one place, it was "Tow cups flour" instead of "Two."

I think — in all good humor — that the highly technical, design, layout, app experts here sometimes overlook that there is often content involved that isn't subject to even the most elegant automated processing. Or that all the time needed for proofing "ain't their job."

As a writer, editor, publisher, publication designer AND dab hand with ID... I can see the distinctions in these tasks.

pixxxelschubser

Community Expert

There are two German scripts that do the opposite: "Zahlen-zu-Text-Prepare.jsx" und "Zahlen-zu-Text-Replace.jsx" on https://www.indesignscript.de/indesigntipps/

That could be a good starting point?

K

KellyMSmith1016Author

Participant

That would be a great place to get started! However, I don't seem to be able to download or purchase that particular script from that site.

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