Remove duplicate word

[Nyla]

For some reason, this doesn't work:

 

<?php
$string = 'You have a code   CODE  code of ethics';
while (preg_match("/code\s+code/",$string)) {

$string = preg_replace("/code\s+code/","code",$string);

}

print $string;
?>

 

I don't want to replace all instances of duplicated words, rather, only when the word "code" is duplicated. Throughout my 100mb text file, the word "code" appears duplicated (with varying whitespace between). For example:

 

From this:

You have a code   CODE code   code of ethics.

Code   code Code green means everything is okay.

What is the CODE code     code code for the lock.

 

To this:

You have a code of ethics.

Code green means everything is okay.

What is the code for the lock.

 

But for some reason, I cannot get my preg_replace to work?

[requinix]

Wtf happened to create all those "code"s?

 

Regular expressions are case-sensitive by default. Use the /i flag to stop that.

While I'm here, you don't need to use a loop for this.

<?php
$string = 'You have a code   CODE  code of ethics';
$string = preg_replace('/code(\s+code)+/i', "code", $string); // "code" and one or more of (whitespace and "code")
print $string;
?>

[Nyla]

Nope, still BIG problem. On your computer, create a text file called "bigfile.txt" with ONE string on it, exactly:

 

Very Good Ethics Code CODE CODE.

 

Now, I run this code (I didn't leave anything out):

 

<?php

#again, "bigfile.txt" is a text file with this exact string: Very Good Ethics Code CODE CODE.

 

$lines = file("bigfile.txt");

foreach ($lines as $n => $line) {

$line = preg_replace('/code(\s+code)+/i', "code", $line);

}

file_put_contents("bigfile.txt", $lines);

?>

 

Nothing got changed (here's the output):

Very Good Ethics Code CODE CODE.

 

If you help me with this, I will buy you a beer (non-alcoholic, because I'm a goody-goody person) if you ever come to my hometown!

[requinix]

When you modify $line you don't actually modify $lines too. Just a copy of $line.

$lines[$n] = preg_replace('/code(\s+code)+/i', "code", $line);

Surprised you forgot that since it was brought up in another thread and you had the right code there.

[Nyla]

Thank you, Requinex! You have saved my bacon MANY times now! I sure appreciate it!     

One non-alcoholic beer comin' right up!