Difference between revisions of "MassEditRegex"
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'''MassEditRegex''' | '''MassEditRegex''' | ||
| − | This extension allows administrators to replace specific texts simultaneously in a larger number of pages | + | This extension allows administrators to replace, add or delete specific texts simultaneously in a larger number of pages. The pagenames need to be specified which means a text search normally precedes the use of the extension. However, apart from providing a list of the pages to be edited other options like specifying the begining of the pagenames or categories are also possible. For categories all pages within a category are searched and edited. The extension is, for example, useful to change SemanticMW assignments, where lists of pages can be generated with the ask function. |
Here are a few notes for administrators who are not familiar with this extension: | Here are a few notes for administrators who are not familiar with this extension: | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
* Go to [[Special:MassEditRegex]] | * Go to [[Special:MassEditRegex]] | ||
* Enter a list of pagenames into the box "Pages to be edited", placing each pagename into a new line | * Enter a list of pagenames into the box "Pages to be edited", placing each pagename into a new line | ||
| − | * Enter the search text using the [http://php.net/manual/en/function.preg-replace.php preg_replace] format. That means the search text needs to be enclosed in forward slashes and several signs need to be escaped, | + | * Enter the search text using the [http://php.net/manual/en/function.preg-replace.php preg_replace] format. That means the search text needs to be enclosed in forward slashes and several signs need to be escaped, namely: \ ^ . $ | ( ) [ ] * + ? { } , |
| + | * The use of [[wikipedia:Regular expression|regular expressions]] in the search text is also possible. | ||
* If the search text is not found in one of the pages listed no changes are done on that page. | * If the search text is not found in one of the pages listed no changes are done on that page. | ||
* Normally it is advisable to use the "Show preview" option first. However, the preview is limited to the first 10 pages listed. | * Normally it is advisable to use the "Show preview" option first. However, the preview is limited to the first 10 pages listed. | ||
| − | * Several search and replace expressions can be used simultaneously. | + | * Several search and replace expressions can be used simultaneously. For this each search and replace expression is entered in a new line, even if the replace line is blank. |
| + | * Only one change is made per line and if the search text occurs several time in a line only the last occurrence is changed. | ||
| + | * Search expressions in brackets (without escapes) can be referred to as $1, $2, etc. in the replace text. | ||
* A Gateway error might occur if too many pages are changed at once (e.g. more than 200). | * A Gateway error might occur if too many pages are changed at once (e.g. more than 200). | ||
| − | [[Category:Extensions]] | + | '''Example:'''<br/> |
| + | <pre> | ||
| + | Search text - /(\|Publication authors=.*)A\. Johnson/ | ||
| + | Replace text - $1[[A. Johnson]] | ||
| + | </pre> | ||
| + | |||
| + | This example places "A. Johnson" into double square brackets in all lines where "|Publication authors=" is found. The regular expression ".*" stands for any string, even for an empty string. Thus: | ||
| + | <pre> | ||
| + | |Publication authors=John F. Smith and A. Johnson | ||
| + | becomes | ||
| + | |Publication authors=John F. Smith and [[A. Johnson]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | or | ||
| + | |Publication authors=A. Johnson and S. Wang | ||
| + | becomes | ||
| + | |Publication authors=[[A. Johnson]] and S. Wang | ||
| + | </pre> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category: MediaWiki Extensions]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:25, 13 November 2017
MassEditRegex
This extension allows administrators to replace, add or delete specific texts simultaneously in a larger number of pages. The pagenames need to be specified which means a text search normally precedes the use of the extension. However, apart from providing a list of the pages to be edited other options like specifying the begining of the pagenames or categories are also possible. For categories all pages within a category are searched and edited. The extension is, for example, useful to change SemanticMW assignments, where lists of pages can be generated with the ask function.
Here are a few notes for administrators who are not familiar with this extension:
- Go to Special:MassEditRegex
- Enter a list of pagenames into the box "Pages to be edited", placing each pagename into a new line
- Enter the search text using the preg_replace format. That means the search text needs to be enclosed in forward slashes and several signs need to be escaped, namely: \ ^ . $ | ( ) [ ] * + ? { } ,
- The use of regular expressions in the search text is also possible.
- If the search text is not found in one of the pages listed no changes are done on that page.
- Normally it is advisable to use the "Show preview" option first. However, the preview is limited to the first 10 pages listed.
- Several search and replace expressions can be used simultaneously. For this each search and replace expression is entered in a new line, even if the replace line is blank.
- Only one change is made per line and if the search text occurs several time in a line only the last occurrence is changed.
- Search expressions in brackets (without escapes) can be referred to as $1, $2, etc. in the replace text.
- A Gateway error might occur if too many pages are changed at once (e.g. more than 200).
Example:
Search text - /(\|Publication authors=.*)A\. Johnson/ Replace text - $1[[A. Johnson]]
This example places "A. Johnson" into double square brackets in all lines where "|Publication authors=" is found. The regular expression ".*" stands for any string, even for an empty string. Thus:
|Publication authors=John F. Smith and A. Johnson becomes |Publication authors=John F. Smith and [[A. Johnson]] or |Publication authors=A. Johnson and S. Wang becomes |Publication authors=[[A. Johnson]] and S. Wang
