String replace but NOT in tags...

[Cugel]

I have the following string

$strString = "balbalbalbalbalbablablafoobalbalbalbalbalabfooblablbalbalbalba<a href='dogfood.php'>food for dogs</a>blablablbalablablabla";
$strSearch = "foo";
$strReplace = "<font color='#FF0000>foo</font>";

I want to replace the word foo (wich is my search-string) with <font color='#FF0000>foo</font>,
except when i use eregi_replace($strSearch,$strReplace,$strString) it
replaces the stuff which is in between the tags as well.

So the output is :

balbalbalbalbalbablabla<font color='#FF0000>foo</font>balbalbalbalbalab<font color='#FF0000>foo</font>blablbalbalbalba<a href='dog<font color='#FF0000>foo</font>d.php'><font color='#FF0000>foo</font>d for dogs</a>blablablbalablablabla

As you can see, the link (dogfood.php) is replaced with $strRepl !!!

How do I solve this problem ??

Thanks for helping me out !

[laserlight]

Would it be possible to change "foo" so some other more distinctive string?

What you want would probably require a fairly powerful algorithm that would differentiate data from formatting tags that are pretty much like the data.

[ybinds]

Hello,

If you can have your string this way then the following code works.

$strString = " balbalbalbalbalbablabla foobalbalbalbalbalab fooblab
lbalbalbalba<a href='dogfood.php'>food for dogs</a>blablablbalablablabla";
$strReplace = "<font color='#FF0000>foo</font>";
$strString=eregi_replace("( )foo",$strReplace,$strString);
echo $strString;

Try it.

[Cugel]

ybinds

Thanks a lot mate.

I'd never thought it would be that easy.
The only thing is that the text for the href isn't in a different color
like foo d for dogs, but then again, it works fine for me now !!!!

Thanks again !