Thread: Regex_replace numbers in .txt file

I want to regex_replace all numbers in a .txt file but for numbers with decimals the period separator remains:

Code:

# include <iostream>
# include <fstream>
# include <string>
# include <regex>


int main()
{
    std::ifstream inFile{"F:\\test.txt"};
    std::regex re{"\\b[0-9]+"};
     if (inFile)
    {
        std::string line{};
        while (getline(inFile, line))
        {
            line = std::regex_replace(line, re, "");
            std::cout << line;
        }
    }
}

Sample File
The National Bureau of Statistic's official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 51.2 higher than the 51.0 expected and even with 51.2 in April, Reuters reported. China's steel PMI rose to 54.8 in May from 49.1 in April. Meanwhile, China's official services PMI rose to 54.5 in May from 54.0 in April.


ps: there might be other ways of accomplishing this task but I'd like to use regex in this instance. Thanks

Did you try adding the decimal point to the regex expression?

Jim

Hello Jim - a well-placed query is often as powerful as providing a complete answer, so thanks for your perspicacious line of questioning. The following works but I'm using two regex objects, the second to remove the additional whitespace. Is there any way they can be combined into one?

Code:

# include <iostream>
# include <fstream>
# include <string>
# include <regex>


int main()
{
    std::ifstream inFile{"F:\\test.txt"};
    std::regex re{"\\b[0-9]+ | \\b[0-9]+(.)[0-9]+"};
    // numbers without decimals - regex separator - numbers with decimals 
    std::regex re1{"[\\s]{2}"};
    // preceding atom has exactly two consecutive whitespaces
     if (inFile)
    {
        std::string line{};
        while (getline(inFile, line))
        {
            line = std::regex_replace(line, re, "");
            line = std::regex_replace(line, re1, " ");
            std::cout << line;
        }
    }
}

Sample File (now contains a number without decimals as well for testing the regex)
The National Bureau 45 of Statistic's official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 51.2 higher than the 51.0 expected and even with 51.2 in April, Reuters reported. China's steel PMI rose to 54.8 in May from 49.1 in April. Meanwhile, China's official services PMI rose to 54.5 in May from 54.0 in April.

The following works but I'm using two regex objects, the second to remove the additional whitespace.

What additional whitespace, located exactly where?

Jim

The additional ws appears after the first regex object has executed where the previous digits used to be - one ws each from either side of the word boundary

one ws each from either side of the word boundary

After commenting out the second regex lines I don't see any extra spaces in the line.

Also using

Code:

std::regex re{"\\b[0-9]+."};

seems to remove the numbers, with or without decimal places so are you sure you need the rest of the conditions in your regex?


Jim

Perfect Jim, many thanks