Find and Replace in Files – Add After Start Tag issue

[m853qx@u]

Hi,

I am trying to use Find and Replace tool to add a tag after another start tag, namely, I want to add <sup> tag after start tag <a>.

As a result, however, Dreamweaver inserts  pair. I don't want it because I have a content inside the <a> tag and I want to use another find and replace tour (Add Before Closing Tag option) to add a </sup> before closing </a>. So that I embrace the content of <a> with <sup>.

I disabled automatic tag closing in Dreamweaver but this doesn't help. Would appreciate any hints how to resolve this annoying behavior.

Peter

[WolfShade]

I think you need to use RegEx to do that.  Just off the top of my head, something _like_:

FIND: (<a[^>]>)(.+)(</a>)  <!--- the parenthesis are back references --->

REPLACE: $1^$2$3

This _should_ insert ^{between the opening anchor tag and the text, and} between the text and the closing anchor tag.

UNTESTED.

HTH,

^ _ ^

[WolfShade]

But I must say that this is old-school and should be avoided.  It would be easier (and better) to apply CSS formatting to all anchor tags.

V/r,

^ _ ^

UPDATE: According to MDN, it would be better to use CSS for what you are trying to do.

[m853qx@u]

Dear WolfShade​,

thank you for your remarks on that. Yes, applying styles should be easier here. Anyways, the behavior I mention in original post should be somehow addressed.

Peter

[WolfShade]

Then if you insist on using deprecated code which will eventually make your site obsolete and unusable, my first post should work.

V/r,

^ _ ^

[m853qx@u]

I meant Dreamweaver search and replace function in general, not the tags.

[WolfShade]

That's what I'm talking about.  In the document in question, open Find and Replace, make sure you select current document, and put a checkmark in the box next to "Regular Expression".

In the find area, enter:  (<a[^>]>)(.+)(</a>)

In the replace area, enter: $1^$2$3

This will go through the document, find all anchor tags, insert ^{between the opening anchor tag and the text, insert} between the text and the closing anchor tag.

V/r,

^ _ ^

[WolfShade]

I should add:  This should work assuming that no anchor tags are malformed (ie, "< a href="file.html">" or "< / a >").

V/r,

^ _ ^

[WolfShade]

I found time to test this.  So far my original recipe isn't working.  I'll let you know when I have the right RegEx.

[WolfShade]

GOT IT!    I forgot to add a space to the second backreference.

Enter this in the "FIND" area:  (<a[^>]+>)([\w ]+)(<[^>]+>)

Enter this in the "REPLACE" area: $1^$2$3

The parenthesis are backreferences (related to $1, $2, $3) so you're taking the first backreference, following it with ^{, then adding the second backreference, following it with}, then appending the third backreference to that.

HTH,

^ _ ^

[WolfShade · Accepted solution]

UPDATED:  That didn't allow for punctuation.  SMH.

(<\s*a[^>]+>)([!"#$%&'()*+,-.\/:;=?@[\]^_`{|}~|\w| ]+)(<\s*[^>]+>) is what you put in the FIND if you need to include punctuation.

RegEx Tester

HTH,

^ _ ^

[WolfShade]

Did the last update I provided work?

V/r,

^ _ ^

[m853qx@u]

Yes, works

Thanks

[WolfShade]

Thank you for marking my answer as correct.  I do appreciate it, and I'm sure other users who seek the same as you did will, too.

V/r,

^ _ ^