[SOLVED] simple preg_replace escapes me!

[DssTrainer]

I have a sql string:

"select * from table where language_id = '5' and date = now()";

 

 

I want to change language_id = '5' to language_id = '1'

I've been playing with it all day, but I can't even find a regex reference example that does what I'm trying to do.

 

Any help would be appreciated

[.josh]

umm...if you want it to always be 1, just hardcode it as 1 instead of 5....

 

if the id is going to change, that's not regex, that's using a variable, like

 

$id = 1;

... "select * from table where language_id = '$id' and date = now()";

 

[DssTrainer]

Thanks. Not to be rude, but I know what I want. I've summarized my real code to the meat and potatoes of the regex. I'm just looking for the answer to my question.

[.josh]

well maybe you should un-summarize it, because it sure sounds like you're just wanting to use a variable...

[DssTrainer]

actually it sounds like i have a simple string with a single digit in between 2 apostrophes

Maybe I should make it simpler for you:

 

I have a phrase "my_number = '4'" and sometimes its "my_number = '43'" and sometimes its "my_number = '0'" but regardless of what the resultant string is, I want to change it to "my_number = '1'". So regardless of the surrounding syntax or code or anything else, I am just looking for the answer to the question.

 

-EDIT-

Just because you think it is a PHP question, the fact is it is still a regex question, so don't move the thread.

[MadTechie]

$dig = 2;
$data = "select * from table where language_id = '5' and date = now()";
$data = preg_replace('/\'\d\'/i', "\'$dig\'", $data);
echo $data;

 

Edit: (fix) oops hard coded a 2 in the regex!

[DssTrainer]

$dig = 2;
$data = "select * from table where language_id = '5' and date = now()";
$data = preg_replace('/\'\d\'/i', "\'$dig\'", $data);
echo $data;

 

Edit: (fix) oops hard coded a 2 in the regex!

 

that'll work It was much simpler than my attempts at it. Thanks!

[.josh]

well I'm glad you got your problem solved.  If you had worded it that way in the first place, you would have gotten an answer a lot sooner.  Your 2nd explanation "sounds" simpler to you because you know the context of your situation.  We don't.  We aren't psychic.

[.josh]

btw I'd probably make that regex more like this:

$data = preg_replace("language_id = '\d+'", "language_id = '$dig'", $data);

 

That other regex will change any 1 digit number between single quotes.  This will change any 1+ digit number between quotes that's preceded by 'language_id = '

 

If your numbers will always be single digits and that will be the only thing in your string with a digit, then the previous one will be okay.

[Daniel0]

http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#id307781

 

(read the rest of that page as well)