Removing Whitespace from within a string

[paulferree]

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

[-__cfSearching__-]

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?

[paulferree]

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__-]

> 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>

[paulferree]

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__-]

paulferree wrote:
> The Output (notice the whitespace):
> =======
> length = 180

Strange. I ran the exact code with CF 8 and the length = 81. The original string (with the html) was length = 602.

[paulferree]

hmm.. maybe thats the problem then. I'm running CF 6.1 or something.

[-__cfSearching__-]

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.

[paulferree]

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