C# find all strings between two characters inside word document

Question

I'm using DocX library to replace text inside word document. I want to somehow find all strings between "[]" inside my template docx file, for example [Name], [LastName], [Date] etc... and replace it with values which I previously load to datagridview which have same column name(Name, LastName, Date). Here is what I have so far:

foreach (DataGridViewRow dataGridViewRow in list)
{
    try
    {
        string template = txtUcitajTemplate.Text;
        string text2 = "Aneksi";
        if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(text2))
        {
            System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(text2);
        }
        string path = string.Format("{0}.docx", dataGridViewRow.Cells["Name"].Value.ToString());
        string path2 = System.IO.Path.Combine(text2, path);

        using (DocX document = DocX.Load(template))
        {
            string patternstart = Regex.Escape("[");
            string patternend = Regex.Escape("]");
            string regexexpr = patternstart + @"(.*?)" + patternend;
            // document.ReplaceText(regexexpr, dataGridViewRow.Cells[0].Value.ToString());
            // document.ReplaceText(regexexpr, dataGridViewRow.Cells[1].Value.ToString());
            var regex = new regex("[.*?]");
            var matches = regex.matches(input); //your matches: name, name@gmail.com
            foreach (var match in matches) // e.g. you can loop through your matches like this
            {
                document.ReplaceText(match.ToString(), dataGridViewRow.Cells["Name"].Value.ToString());
                document.ReplaceText(match.ToString(), dataGridViewRow.Cells["LastName"].Value.ToString());
            }
            document.SaveAs(path2);                     
        }
    }
    catch (System.Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
    }
}

And what is the question? Any error? Problem? Unexpected results? — MakePeaceGreatAgain, Apr 05 '16 at 10:22
Sorry, im not sure what should I put in regex.matches(input), to search through hole document and all find strings between [] — dilesko, Apr 05 '16 at 11:58

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:24

0

Try changing your regular expression, it looks like this question here is basically doing the same thing you are trying to (with regards to finding the values between two characters).

Regular Expression to find a string included between two characters while EXCLUDING the delimiters

If you use that premise then iterate through all matches. I suspect you will be able to alter your code to do what you are trying to achieve.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:24

Community

1
1

answered Apr 05 '16 at 10:25

Pheonyx

851
6
15

what should be my input for searching, inside Regex.Matches(input)? – dilesko Apr 06 '16 at 11:18

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 05 '16 at 10:37

Here is your problem:

var regex = new regex("[.*?]");

See your RegEx here

You are matching any of the characters you have put between the brackets [], meaning your RegEx will only match the characters ., * and ? literally.

What you need to do is to escape these brackets:

\[.*?\]

See it working here

C# find all strings between two characters inside word document

2 Answers2