Possible? preg_match_all() =>create var of matches=>alter=>preg_replace()

sherry

Hello.

Objective: To remove portions of text found by 'preg_match' by substituting a variable in its place; modify each match found based upon some condition; preg_replace() back into those spots (variables) then parse using eval().

Is this possible?

I tried it but can't get the vars to parse.

Here is a brief overview of what I did:

1) preg_match_all('...',$text,$match)
2)

if ($match[$x][$y] == $match[$x][0])
{
$align[$y] = $match[$x][0];
$search[$y] = "#".preg_quote($align[$y], '#')."#";
$replace[$y] = "\$var[" . $y . "]";
$var[0] = $align[0];

$var[1] = $align[1];
}

$text = preg_replace($search, $replace, $text);

AFTER the substitution of the vars into the text, the value of $text becomes:

'Here is the basic properties as described by $var[0] and as the parts are built with the color $var[1], the new description becomes complete.'

...which is what I want.

In reality, I want to replace HTML tags, etc. as appropriate within each of these vars, $var[$y].

3) eventually this will lead to finding something specific within each match found in step 1, modifying it, redefining the $var[], then resubstitute the new value back into $text.

I hadn't gotten to step 3, yet because I haven't gotten pass step 2 testing where all I wanted to do was resubstitute the original text segments back into their respective areas of the original text by...

eval('$text1 = $text;');

whereby each $var[$y] is parsed back into their respective places within the $text and then print out the result either as a revised version of the var, $text, or to rename the revised version to $text1.

Again, is this possible? If so, how to get the $var[$y] to become parsed?

The result in the eval() statement as shown above just assigns $text1 the same value as $text above with the vars named as shown above as (literally):

'Here is the basic properties as described by $var[0] and as the parts are built with the color $var[1], the new description becomes complete.'

...without parsing.

Is it because the 'eval()' syntax is not correct? What is the correct syntax, or what is needed if it's possible to do?

Thanks in advance.

NogDog

I get a bit confused trying to read what you want to do. Could you help me out by simply showing me an example of what the original text would be, and then an example of what you want that text to end up as? (I've got a feeling there's probably a somewhat simpler way to do what you want via [man]preg_replace_callback[/man] rather than what you're trying right now, but I'm not sure.)

sherry

Thanks NogDog for your reply.

First, I found out the correct syntax for the eval() that would make the substitution work. The syntax is, "eval("\$text1 = \"$text\";");". I thought I tried this earlier before, but I must have had a typo whereby what I had didn't work.

Second, I looked up your suggestion of 'preg_replace_callback' and I believe you understand what I'm trying to do.

Right now I'm trying to fully understand what it does, but I believe this may prove to be a shorter or more straight-forward method to accomplish the 'resubstitution' since what I'm doing does involve calling another function to make the modifications to the $var[$y].

I'm going to look up some more references regarding that function and give it a try and will let you know how it turns out.

Thanks so very much!

sherry

Hello again.

I like that function, 'preg_replace_callback()' but it is not applicable for what I'm trying to do here. I can use it in other applications, though.

The reason it is not applicable here is because in setting the params for the function, it only applies to the portion of text being revised; there's no way to incorporate the text from which it came.

If the text from which it came was the subject in totality, then this function could be used.

I will use it for other purposes, though. I like it!

Thanks again!