Re: [SQL] Help with regexp-query

select id, regexp_replace(category, (E'\\|{2,}'), E'\|', 'g') as category from
akb_articles limit 100

Backslash in regex doubled. Added global modifier to replace all occurrences.

----- Reply message -----
From: "Johann Spies" <jspies(at)sun(dot)ac(dot)za>
Date: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 8:20 am
Subject: [SQL] Help with regexp-query
To: <pgsql-sql(at)postgresql(dot)org>

I am struggling a bit to do the following type of update in a table.

I want the content of a field updated like this:

Original:
'||||0894396e-16bf-4e63-aa52-97fe7031eec9||50a6b47c-f69c-414d-bcb6-14bbe403de5f|||'

After update:
'|0894396e-16bf-4e63-aa52-97fe7031eec9|50a6b47c-f69c-414d-bcb6-14bbe403de5f|'

in other words: change all multiple adjacent occurences of '|' to only 1.

I have tried the following query but it fails:

select id, regexp_replace(category, (E'\|{2,}'), E'\|') as category from
akb_articles limit 100

This ends with 'ERROR: invalid regular expression: quantifier operand
invalid'.

I would apreciate some help with this one please.

Regards
Johann
--
Johann Spies Telefoon: 021-808 4699
Databestuurder / Data manager

Sentrum vir Navorsing oor Evaluasie, Wetenskap en Tegnologie
Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology
Universiteit Stellenbosch.

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