how to replace in-between fullstops with comma?

Question

I am trying to replace in-between periods and exclamations i.e.,(.,!) with comma. When I tried, my code replaces all the fullstops(.) with comma(,) but, I dont want to change the ending fullstop.

String txt="When I'm bored, I eat. When I'm happy, I eat. When I'm sad, I eat.";

txt = txt.replaceAll("[^\\x00-\\x7f-\\x80-\\xad]", ""); //replaces emojies

//String a=txt.replaceAll("[.!]", ","); //replaces comma or exclamation

System.out.println(txt);

OUTPUT WITH LINE COMMENTED OUT:

When I'm bored, I eat. When I'm happy, I eat. When I'm sad, I eat.

OUTPUT WITH CODE INSTEAD OF COMMENT (and println(a)):

When I'm bored, I eat, When I'm happy, I eat, When I'm sad, I eat,

Why isn't the period repalced here? ==> `When I'm happy, I eat.` — TheLostMind, Jun 28 '16 at 06:42
If you want to replace all periods/exclamations but the last, that might help: `String a=txt.replaceAll("([.!] *)\b", ", ");` — Maria Ivanova, Jun 28 '16 at 06:51
Please show your original string and expected outcome string. In above string, I cant see any "!" marks. — Nayana Adassuriya, Jun 28 '16 at 07:02
Are you looking for a solution using any of `bash` utils `sed`/`awk`? — Inian, Jun 28 '16 at 07:11

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:16

1

You want to use a negative lookahead:

[\.!](?<!$)

That is: do replace whenever the dot or exclamation mark occur somewhere not at the end of a string.

String a=txt.replaceAll("[\.!](?<!$)", ",");

See the expression and how it matches in: http://www.rubular.com/r/L5oSf1aCa5

edited May 23 '17 at 12:16

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answered Jun 28 '16 at 07:54

fedorqui

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Mustafa Demir · Answer 2 · 2016-06-28T08:25:45.123

You can just use substring, do the replace and concatanate it back.

String txt="When I'm bored, I eat. When I'm happy, I eat. When I'm sad, I eat.";

String a=txt.substring(0, java.lang.Math.max(txt.lastIndexOf('.'), txt.lastIndexOf('!')));

a=a.replaceAll("[^\x00-\x7f-\x80-\xad]", ""); //replaces emojies

a=a.replaceAll("[.!]", ",")+txt.substring(java.lang.Math.max(txt.lastIndexOf('.'), txt.lastIndexOf('!')),txt.length()); //replaces comma or exclamation

System.out.println(a);

how to replace in-between fullstops with comma?

2 Answers2