Having a problem replacing file extensions

[cwigley]

Hello!
I was hoping someone could help me out here. I've spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how to use regular expressions to fix the extension of a large group of files in my script...and I am having some problems.

The full text of a sample looks like this:
Activity 101\audio\french\101_OUTRO_S01_fr.m2V

I want to search for everything in the file that contains this:
Activity 101\audio\***.m2V

and replace it with this:
Activity 101\audio\***.ac3

The issue is that there are files in my script located in other directories with .m2v, that are good, and I do not want to change them. Basicly how do i insert a wildcard for the data between "audio\" and ".m2v"


Thank you in advance! You guys are great on here...

- Collin

[Bob Hansen]

I am not sure of what you are trying to replace but to find the sections after audio\ and before .m2v try this:

Searching for this:
Activity 101\\audio\\.*\.m2v

Will find these lines:
Activity 101\audio\***.m2V
Activity 101\audio\abc.m2V
Activity 101\audio\french\123.m2V
Activity 101\audio\german\abc123.m2V
---------------------------------------------------------
Searching for this:
Activity 101\\audio\\(.*\.)m2v

Will provide \1 with these values:
***.
abc.
french\123.
german\abc123.
---------------------------------------------------------

This is done using Regular Expressions with POSIX

[cwigley]

Hi Bob,
I am trying to switch the extension on a large amount of files from .m2v to .ac3

The common portion of all the files i want to find, starts with:
Activity 101\audio\

and ends with:
.m2V

I need textpad to find those files, ignore the actual file name between them (similar to "101_OUTRO_S01_Q_fr"), and replace/change only the extension .m2v to .ac3

All of the file names are derivatives of this naming sceme:
"101_OUTRO_S01_Q_fr.m2v",
"101_R1_S01_INTL_fr.m2v",
"101_R1_S03_fr.m2v"

I tried using what you suggested and was unable to get any hits. I have Regular Expression checked, as well as Use POSIX checked in my preferences.

I included a segment of the script so you can see exactly what i'm talking about.

Thanks Bob!

- Collin

--------------------------------------------
Item=AC3 Audio
{
Place Holder=No
Name=101_R1_S02_Q_fr
Resolution=NTSC
Drop Type=Non-drop frame
Data Start Time=01:06:02:20
Data End Time=01:06:22:19
File=G:\Directory\Activity 101\audio\french\101_R1_S02_Q_fr.m2V
Audio Type=AC3
Bit rate=192000
Channel=2 : 0
LFE On=No
Bsmod=complete main
}
Item=AC3 Audio
{
Place Holder=No
Name=101_R1_S03_fr
Resolution=NTSC
Drop Type=Non-drop frame
Data Start Time=01:07:00:00
Data End Time=01:07:01:29
File=G:\Directory\Activity 101\audio\french\101_R1_S03_fr.m2V
Audio Type=AC3
Bit rate=192000
Channel=2 : 0
LFE On=No
Bsmod=complete main

[Bob Hansen]

Search for:
(Activity 101\\audio\\.*\.)m2v

Replace with:
\1ac3

In the script you provided, this single line:
File=G:\Directory\Activity 101\audio\french\101_R1_S02_Q_fr.m2v

is replaced with this:
File=G:\Directory\Activity 101\audio\french\101_R1_S02_Q_fr.ac3
------------------------------------------

Searching for these:
Activity 101\audio\***.m2V
Activity 101\audio\abc.m2V
Activity 101\audio\french\123.m2V
Activity 101\audio\german\abc123.m2V

Will produce these lines:
Activity 101\audio\***.ac3
Activity 101\audio\abc.ac3
Activity 101\audio\french\123.ac3
Activity 101\audio\german\abc123.ac3

---------------------------------------------
Using Regular Expressions with POSIX

[cwigley]

That is EXACTLY what I needed. Worked like a charm. Thank you very VERY much!

(my boss now thinks i'm a genius...heh heh)

have a great day,
- Collin