Finding file(name)s which do NOT contain some text

General discussions about Advanced Find and Replace
Post Reply
joshley
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:16 am

Finding file(name)s which do NOT contain some text

Post by joshley »

Hey!
Just bought this after the 21day evaluation ran out.. I have to say this has proved absolutely indispensible!! However, I am sure this is possible but I do not know how (and searched the forums but it's an awkward one to search for).. How do I find files which do NOT contain some text?
i.e. I want to find all files that do NOT contain in the file name (without quotes):
" - /d" (perl regular exp.)
Thanks in advance!
josh

Abacre
Site Admin
Posts: 1223
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:32 pm

Post by Abacre »

Hi,

So how to describe it in words:
AFR has to list files that do not contain
space,-,space,any digit
in file name? Is it right?
Last edited by Abacre on Tue May 17, 2005 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kind regards,
Abacre Limited
http://www.abacre.com
support@abacre.com

joshley
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:16 am

Post by joshley »

Wow, thanks for the quick reply!

Sorry, I should have elaborated.. but yes you're completely right!

I want AFR to list all files that do NOT contain this (in the file name):
space,-,space,any digit

Is this possible?
Thanks!

Abacre
Site Admin
Posts: 1223
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:32 pm

Post by Abacre »

It's not possible with current syntax of regular expressions
http://www.abacre.com/afr/manual/regexpsyntax.htm
But we will try to extend the regular expressions by adding "exclude"
tag. It will be implemented this or next week.

Roma

joshley
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:16 am

Post by joshley »

:shock:
Wow, that's what I call service!
Would it not be easier, say, to have a check box for 'NOT' next to each 'line' in the batch replace section, and then just put in a regular expression and check it. Then when it searches, if it finds it, don't add to the list, else, do!
(I have no idea of the inner workings of AFR, so this suggestion may be much much more difficult and sound ridiculous, so please ignore it if so!).
Having said all that, if it was built into the regular expression syntax, you could have expressions like:
space,-,NOT number,NOT [a-m],[n-z],space

...all in one line.

Anyway, thanks again, I look forward to the addition!

Kind Regards,
josh

joshley
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:16 am

Post by joshley »

Any update on this..? Would it be possible to put a post up when it has been implemented? Thanks!

Kind Regards,
Josh

Abacre
Site Admin
Posts: 1223
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:32 pm

Post by Abacre »

Hi,

It's almost ready. I will send you the instructions tomorrow after some
testing.
Kind regards,
Abacre Limited
http://www.abacre.com
support@abacre.com

joshley
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:16 am

Post by joshley »

Thanks Roman!!

I sincerely look forward to it! :)

josh

Abacre
Site Admin
Posts: 1223
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:32 pm

Post by Abacre »

Hi Josh,

It's ready now!

Please download the latest version of the program:
http://www.abacre.com/download/afrexe.zip

This is only updated EXE file. You need to extract executable file from
zip archive into folder where the program is installed. So you will
replace old executable file by this new one.

Start the program. Go to main menu - Action - Options - Find
check the options:
Find in file names is ON
Find in file bodies is OFF
Use regular expressions is ON

Press OK. Go to main window - Find tab.
Check on "Native".
Put into Query the following text:
-" , \d"

That's all. I verified it perfectly works.

Note: \d here means a single digit.
if you need a number there use \d+
for expression will be
-" , \d+"
Kind regards,
Abacre Limited
http://www.abacre.com
support@abacre.com

joshley
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:16 am

Post by joshley »

You know, this is what software companies should be about! I tried it and it seems to work a treat! Roman, you and Abacre are fantastic, you've just made a truly great piece of dead handy software somehow better, in a week!

Who'd have thought you could buy some complete piece of commercial software, inquire about some feature, be quickly informed it's not in there, and then someone LISTENS and goes and puts it in! A rare quality for a company indeed. Normally you'd just get a 'sorry, nevermind, eh?'.

Thanks a lot again, I'm incredibly impressed with this! I shall certainly be looking into other Abacre software as a result of discovering this level of customer care!
josh

p.s. Apologies if I ranted a bit.. but it's a happy rant!

Post Reply