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Wildcard syntax problem...

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:28 am
by tim8324798347
I am working on optimizing some of my web pages for SEO. I need to add in my keywords to the urls within my html files.

I need to change this...

<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Gre ... htm">Green Valley Lake</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Lyoth.htm">Lyoth</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Ing ... glewood</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Pin ... .htm">Pine Grove</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Cer ... erritos</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Val ... Vallejo</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Mou ... htm">Mount Laguna</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/Campo.htm">Campo</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/For ... Fortuna</a>

to this...


<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... htm">Green Valley Lake</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... ">Lyoth</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... glewood</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... .htm">Pine Grove</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... erritos</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... Vallejo</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... htm">Mount Laguna</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... ">Campo</a>
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... Fortuna</a>

and this is what I tried with no luck...

"text to find"
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/(.+).htm">Green Valley Lake</a>

"replace with"
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA- ... htm">Green Valley Lake</a>

I have no idea if the syntax is right. I am assuming that "(.+)" will copy the "Green-Valley-Lake" string from my example above and then "($1)" will write the string, "Green-Valley-Lake," to my output file. Is this correct? I also do not know anything about the modifiers either. Everything I've learned has been from the examples in the forums. Thanks for any help you can give!

Re: Wildcard syntax problem...

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:47 am
by Abacre
Your expressions are almost correct, but:
1. In Search For part: . (dot) before htm is a reserved char. So you
should use \.htm
2. In Replace With part: you simply put $1 without ()
3. You don't need to add "Green Valley Lake</a>" part to the end of
the expressions.

Go to Batch replace tab, check on "Use regular expressions".
Put into the grid, search for:
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/(.+)\.htm">

Replace with:
<a href="http://www.mysite.com/States/Cities/CA-$1-Widgets.htm">

That's all I verified it works perfectly.