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Grep to remove space before superscript number

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 29, 2024
3 replies
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Can anyone tell me the GREP for searcing for a normal space before a superscript number and removing it. I already have one to search for space before endnote reference and delete \s(?=~F) but in my latest document all the note markers have been done manually as a superscript number with a space before, not as an endnote marker so I need to try and remove the space without doing it manually as there are over 400 of them.

Thanks

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Correct answer Prithivirajan29008824dh9b

Check below code

app.findTextPreferences = app.changeTextPreferences = null;
app.findTextPreferences.position = Position.SUPERSCRIPT;
var myResults = app.activeDocument.findText();
var myfind = app.findText()
for(i=0;i<myfind.length;i++)
{
app.select(myResults[i]);
var myIndex = app.selection[0].index-1
var myprevcharacter = app.selection[0].parentStory.characters[myIndex];
if (myprevcharacter.contents==" ")
myprevcharacter.remove()
}

James Gifford—NitroPress

Brainiac

NM

P

Prithivirajan29008824dh9bCorrect answer

New Participant

Check below code

app.findTextPreferences = app.changeTextPreferences = null;
app.findTextPreferences.position = Position.SUPERSCRIPT;
var myResults = app.activeDocument.findText();
var myfind = app.findText()
for(i=0;i<myfind.length;i++)
{
app.select(myResults[i]);
var myIndex = app.selection[0].index-1
var myprevcharacter = app.selection[0].parentStory.characters[myIndex];
if (myprevcharacter.contents==" ")
myprevcharacter.remove()
}

P

Peter Kahrel

Community Expert

The script works, but there's no need to select what you found: just reference it as is. If there's no need to select things, don't: selections tend to be unstable and slow down things considerably.

P

Prithivirajan29008824dh9b

New Participant

Thank Perer for pointing out.

app.findTextPreferences = app.changeTextPreferences = null;
app.findTextPreferences.position = Position.SUPERSCRIPT;
var myResults = app.activeDocument.findText();
var myfind = app.activeDocument.findText()
for(i=0;i<myfind.length;i++)
{
var myIndex = myResults[i].index-1
var myprevcharacter = myResults[i].parentStory.characters[myIndex];
if (myprevcharacter.contents==" ")
myprevcharacter.remove()
}

danaken3

Participating Frequently

Here's a workaround:

Find all superscript numbers, and add a sequence of symbols in front of them that is definitely not found anywhere else in your document—for example, three percentage signs in a row. (Note the $0 in the "Change to" field represents the found number itself.)
Then find all instances of a space followed by three percentage signs (make sure to clear the "Find Format" field since the space itself is not superscript). Replace with nothing.

danaken3

Participating Frequently

Actually I'd probably change that second GREP search to:

\s*%%%

(zero or more spaces, followed by 3 percentage signs). That way, if you have any endnote markers that do not actually have a space preceding them, you won't be left with random percentage signs all over your document. And it will also get rid of any double spaces if there are any. (It would be a good idea to search for triple percentage signs at the end of all this to make sure nothing was missed.)

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