Grep: Delete everything that doesn't match.

[Michael Kocher]

I'm trying to use a multi-file search and replace using grep. I'm still pretty new to grep and BBEdit and could use some help.

I can isolate the text I want to keep using this:

<div class="page-content(?s).*?<div data-analytics-region="prev-next"

Unfortunately, that's the content I want to keep. Is there a way to find everything except what that line pulls up and delete it?

Thanks

[Rich Siegel]

On 12 Nov 2022, at 16:09, Michael Kocher wrote:

> I'm trying to use a multi-file search and replace using grep. I'm still
> pretty new to grep and BBEdit and could use some help.
>
> I can isolate the text I want to keep using this:
>
> <div class="page-content(?s).*?<div data-analytics-region="prev-next"
>
> Unfortunately, that's the content I want to keep. Is there a way to find

> everything *except* what that line pulls up and delete it?

The "Extract" button might do the job for you here. (Leave the "Replace" field blank.)

R.

[Michael Kocher]

The problem with Extract is that it makes a new file, and I have a thousands of files. Is there a way to do it within the original file?

[Bruce Van Allen]

It sure looks to me like Text -> Process Lines Containing… could do what you want.

1. Choose Find lines that do not contain:

2. Put the pattern you mention in the box.

3. Choose Delete matched lines

4. Make sure Copy to clipboard and Copy to new document are NOT checked.

5. Click Process

Doesn’t that do what you want? (Test with sample copies of your files.)

An approach using Extract could be to script it and add a step to unlink/delete the original file after the new one is created with the extractions; once the original file is deleted, the new one can be re-named with the original name.

Of course, it’s easy to picture doing this operation with a short script in Perl or Applescript, saved as a BBEdit text filter.

HTH

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— Bruce

_bruce__van_allen__santa_cruz_ca_

[Michael Kocher]

Great! Thanks so much. I was able to get something workable from this. 

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[Kaveh]

Could you paste a representative sample of the original?

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[Bill Walker]

Micheal,

The Find options have an Extract button.  I think that will do what you want.

wiwa...@yahoo.com

[Kaveh]

Hi Bill 

Michael said above that he has 1000s of files so needs to alter each file, not extract into one file. ;-)

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