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Answered

How do you understand that ((^\s)*)(abc) has 3 groups and abc is $3?

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
June 2, 2025
2 replies
359 views

((^\s)*)(abc)

I originally thought that with one set of brackets, abc should be $2.
But in fact, abc is $3

But the expression:

([,,\h]*)(abc)

Here abc is $2.

Correct answer m1b

Well, yes, once for each found instance.

Try this experiment, using text frame with "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz".

1. findWhat:

(abc)(def(ghi)jkl)(mno)

2. changeTo:

0 = $0\r1 = $1\r2 = $2\r3= $3\r4 = $4\r\rnot captured =

So start with this:

Then perform the find/change on the text. You will see this:

We have split up the capture groups and shown them with the index. Maybe it will help you to look carefully at what is going on here, especially the nested group that captures "ghi".

- Mark

Frans v.d. Geest

Community Expert

Count the brackets () 😉

m1b

Community Expert

You have 3 capture groups. (ABC) is the third.

if you're not sure, just count the "(" from the left ... 1, 2, 3!

P.S. in your second example you have 2 capture groups and (abc) is the second.

dubloveAuthor

Legend

One bracket captured once?

m1b

Correct answer

Community Expert

Well, yes, once for each found instance.

Try this experiment, using text frame with "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz".

1. findWhat:

(abc)(def(ghi)jkl)(mno)

2. changeTo:

0 = $0\r1 = $1\r2 = $2\r3= $3\r4 = $4\r\rnot captured =

So start with this:

Then perform the find/change on the text. You will see this:

We have split up the capture groups and shown them with the index. Maybe it will help you to look carefully at what is going on here, especially the nested group that captures "ghi".

- Mark

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