"Invalid Regular Expression" error while searching for spaces in telephone number

[RobC]

I need to find a regular expression to find spaces in a telephone number so I can replace with  non-breaking spaces.

The following GREP works ok on regexr.com to find the two spaces in "Tel: 123 4567"

(?<=Tel:)\x20|(?<=Tel:\x20\d+)\x20

but in Affinity Publisher it says it's an "invalid regular expression" Any ideas what I should substitute?

[Old Bruce]

I would use 

(Tel:)\s(\d{3})\s(\d)

for find and 

\1nonBreakingSpace\2nonBreakingSpace\3

for replace. With the actual non breaking space from the dropdown list.

[RobC]

Thanks for swift response - that worked for my example but sometimes my phone numbers are a more complicated format and don't follow the same string pattern eg

Tel: +123 4567 45566

Tel: 12348 56612 ext 566

Tel: 12 5667

I tried extending your GREP as 

(Tel:)\s(\S+)\s(\S+)\s(\S+)\s(\S+)

and replaced with \1nonBreakingSpace\2nonBreakingSpace\3nonBreakingSpace\4nonBreakingSpace\5 

but it only worked for the second example with the correct amount of groups

[John Rostron]

If you could identify all your non-breaking spaces in context, then you use alternates such as:

(Tel:)\s(\d)|(\d)\s(\d)|(\d)\s(ext)|(ext)\s(\d) etc

You may need to apply the GREP two or more times. Or does APu include a Global option to the GREP?

John

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, John Rostron said:

Or does APu include a Global option to the GREP?

I'm not sure what you mean by "Global" in this context, John. Sorry.

[RobC]

9 hours ago, John Rostron said:

If you could identify all your non-breaking spaces in context, then you use alternates such as:

(Tel:)\s(\d)|(\d)\s(\d)|(\d)\s(ext)|(ext)\s(\d) etc

You may need to apply the GREP two or more times. Or does APu include a Global option to the GREP?

John

Thanks, John

When I try this it picks up some of the digits as well - I think I'm going to go with the following two GREPs and just keep an eye for the exceptions

(?<=Tel:)\s 

(?<=\d)\s(?=\d)

Rob

[anto]

I tried to create expression, it works partially.

You can try it.

(Tel:)()|(\d{1,})|(Tel:)((\s\+|\s|\+))(\d{1,})(\s)(\d{1,})|(\s)(\d{1,})

Replace by $1$3$11-

where "-" non-breaking space

 

[RobC]

1 hour ago, anto said:

I tried to create extensions, it works partially.

You can try it.

(Tel:)()|(\d{1,})|(Tel:)((\s\+|\s|\+))(\d{1,})(\s)(\d{1,})|(\s)(\d{1,})

Replace by $1$3$11-

where "-" non-breaking space

 

Hi anto

this works really well for me so your time is greatly appreciated - I'll make sure I spend some time trying to understand the how it works

Rob