Regex find and replace works incorrectly when using ^ (beginning of line anchor)

[WalterGR]

Using Notepad3 (x86) v5.21.227.1

I need to remove the first character of some number of lines, either the lines in the selection or the entire document - the behavior is the same for both.

Search string: ^.
Replace with: 
Options checkmarked in search dialog:
  Regular expression search

Document before replace:

abc
def

Expected document after replace:

bc
ef

Actual document after replace:

That is to say, each line has had all of its characters removed.

It would seem that the first character of a line is matched, then removed, and then the match is performed again without advancing to the next line.

[hpwamr]

Hello @WalterGR , Your Regular Expression seems not complete ?

But Notepad3 also offers other easier ways!

• In menu "Edit" --> "Selection":

• Or with a "Rectangular Selection"

[RaiKoHoff]

@WalterGR is right, searching for the next pattern matching should start after last replace position and not at replace position 🤔

[RaiKoHoff]

Yes, this case needs a special handling in multi replacement loop to move forward to next match. IMO Notepad++ is wrong too in this special case: Correct: All Occurrences (& counts) shown before replacement, should be replaced, neither more nor less 🤔

[RaiKoHoff]

PR #3552 will fix this case (and one related special case using the regex line begin pattern with zero-length replacement). Not sure if all thinkable special cases are caught too 🤔

[hpwamr]

searching for the next pattern matching should start after last replace position and not at replace position 🤔

IMO Notepad++ is wrong too in this special case....

Hi @RaiKoHoff , For Your Information:

• Notepad++ and SciTE produce the same bad result as Notepad3. 👎
• However, Notepad2, Notepad2-Mod, Notepad2e, Notepad2 Zufuliu, EditPlusLite, EmEditor, Sublime, TextEditorPro, UltraEdit and VSCode produce the expected result! 👍

[hpwamr]

PR #3552 will fix this case

Hello @WalterGR ,

Feel free to test the "BETA/RC PortableApps", version "Notepad3Portable_5.21.807.1_beta.paf" or newer, see 1st list in issue #1129.

• Notepad3Portable_5.21.807.1_beta.paf.exe.7z -s

"Notepad3Portable BETA/RC PortableApps" version can be used with or without ".7z" extension.

Also, feel free to test the "BETA/RC Setup", version "Notepad3_5.21.807.1_beta_Setup" or newer, see the 2nd list in issue #1129.

Comments and suggestions are welcome... 😃

[WalterGR]

Yep, issue is fixed!

Thanks so much for the amazing turnaround!