Trying to use regex to replace text in a powershell script

Question

I have a string that includes markdown text and I'm trying to convert it to html syntax. When I test in any regex tester, my code is good, but the powershell replace operator, just won't do it. I think I'm missing something, but not sure what.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Example:

$message = "This is a test: [Latest Release Notes](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/release-notes/2023/sprint-218-update)"
$markdownLinkRegex = "/\[([^\[\]]+)\]\(([^\(\)]+)\)/g"
# have tried both of these options below
$htmlmessage = $message -replace ([regex]::Escape($markdownLinkRegex)), "<a href='$2'>$1</a>"
$htmlmessage = $message -replace $markdownLinkRegex, "<a href='$2'>$1</a>"

I have tried adding extra '\' into the regex string, but that made it worse.

I am expecting to see this result:

$htmlmessage = "This is a test: <a href='https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/release-notes/2023/sprint-218-update'>Latest Release Notes</a>"

Why don't you use an actual Markdown processor? Here's an existing question that may have answers for you: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/460483/convert-markdown-to-html-in-net — Neil Barnwell, Mar 17 '23 at 13:25
`($message | ConvertFrom-Markdown).Html` would be most likely a better idea — Santiago Squarzon, Mar 17 '23 at 13:27
In all my searching I never came across the ConvertFrom-Markdown command. Thanks. Works perfect. — huntantr, Mar 17 '23 at 13:45

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 19 '23 at 23:49

PowerShell doesn't use the same syntax as JavaScript so it doesn't need /g

Maybe removing the global do flag will work

$message = "This is a test: [Latest Release Notes](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/release-notes/2023/sprint-218-update)"
$markdownLinkRegex = "\[([^\[\]]+)\]\(([^\(\)]+)\)"
$htmlmessage = $message -replace $markdownLinkRegex, "<a href='$2'>$1</a>"

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 20 '23 at 02:00

The Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility Module comes with the ConvertFrom-Markdown cmdlet on PowerShell 7.2+ and it uses the markdig library to parse markdown files and strings.

Converting your string to its HTML representation is as simple as:

$message = "This is a test: [Latest Release Notes](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/release-notes/2023/sprint-218-update)"
(ConvertFrom-Markdown -InputObject $message).Html

Trying to use regex to replace text in a powershell script

2 Answers2