<![CDATA[With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ?]]>So, the “code” in this should be found:

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

…but not in this:-

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/27601/with-the-help-of-a-regex-how-to-find-code-preceded-by-a-only-if-code-is-absent-between-style-and-style-in-the-css-section-which-is-belowRSS for NodeSat, 11 Jul 2026 08:35:23 GMTWed, 08 Jul 2026 20:40:33 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:16:13 GMT]]>@guy038 Merci beaucoup!

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105876https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105876Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:16:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:54:33 GMT]]>Hi, @dr-ramaanand and all,

I do not understand why you think that the following regex is OK !

(?s)(<code.*?code\x20\{\s*font-family|<div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script.*?</script>)(*SKIP)(*F)|<code

Apparently, against the sample text, used before and pasted in a new tab :

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
bla blah
bla blah
bla blah
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
bla
blah
bla
blah
bla
blah
<style type="text/css"></style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
bla
blah
<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

MATCH
¯¯|¯¯
  |
  v
<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

It just selects the last line beginning with <code !

However, in a previous post, you said :

it should skip what is between <div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script type="text/javascript"> and </script> …

And, precisely, this last line beginning with <code, is, indeed, followed, further on, with the block :

(?s)<div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script type="text/javascript">.+?</script>

Thus, it should not have been matched ?!

Anyway, if this regex above seems to work nicely for you, that’s the main thing !

Best Regards,

guy038

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105874https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105874Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:54:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:13:51 GMT]]>@guy038 This RegEx worked for me: (?s)(<code.*?code\x20\{\s*font-family|<div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script.*?</script>)(*SKIP)(*F)|<code - thanks for your time anyway

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105873https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105873Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:13:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:28:59 GMT]]>Hello, @dr-ramaanand and all,

Your requests are quite complex. So I imagined a completely different way to solve the different required conditions !

We’ll add one special character, right before any string <code, beginning a line, when the conditions are not respected

Thus, perform, successively, these two regex replacements :

SEARCH (?xs-i) ^ <code (?: (?! <code ). )+? code \x20? {

REPLACE \x{2588}$0

We’re searching, here, for the string code\x20?{ !

And

SEARCH (?xs-i) ^ <code (?: (?! <code ). )+? google_translate_element

REPLACE \x{2588}$0

We’re searching, here, for the string google_translate_element !

Now, it’s quite trivial : simply search for the regex (?-i)^<code which should be the allowed cases, ONLY !

If you test it against my previous sample text, you should get the following modified text :

█<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

█<code............>............</code>
bla blah
bla blah
bla blah
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
bla
blah
bla
blah
bla
blah
<style type="text/css"></style>

█<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
bla
blah
█<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

█<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

After analyzing your text, simply run this replacement :

SEARCH \x{2588}

REPLACE Leave EMPTY

BR

guy038

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105872https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105872Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:28:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:01:34 GMT]]>@guy038 Your RegEx doesn’t skip what is between <div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script and </script> (the \s* is to match any number of white spaces in between, even if it is on the next line). Is there any mistake in this RegEx: (?s)(<code.*?code\x20\{\s*font-family|<div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script.*?</script>)(*SKIP)(*F)|<code ? I think it works.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105871https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105871Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:01:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:43:17 GMT]]>Hi, @dr-ramaanand and all,

Ah…, OK. So I changed my line of reasoning :

Instead of looking for zones which do not contain the string code\x20?{, I’m looking for sections which do contain the string code\x20?{

Then, using the well-known backtracking control verbs (*SKIP)(*F), I omit these cases and look for the string <code, in all the other cases !!

Thus, the following regex should solve your problem :

(?xs-i) <code (?:(?!</style>).)+? </code> (?:(?!</style>).)+? <style\x20 (?:(?!</style>).)*? code\x20?{ .+? </style> (*SKIP) (*F) | <code

Test it against the sample text, below :

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
bla blah
bla blah
bla blah
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
bla
blah
bla
blah
bla
blah
<style type="text/css"></style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
bla
blah
<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

BR

guy038

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105870https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105870Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:43:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:11:41 GMT]]>@guy038 There is a lot of text between the <code and <style (or more appropriately, between the </code> and <style) and yes, I want to find just <code. I think you need to introduce a .*? somewhere in the middle of the Regex, to find what is between <code and code\x20\{\s*font-family. The \x20 is to match a single white space, the \ just before the { is to help escape it and help match the { and the \s* is to match more than one white space, even if they are on the next line or a couple of lines below, as long as everything is a white space.

I actually have this block to match the above:-

<code............>............</code>
A lot of text here, spanning many lines
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>
Some text/codes here
<div id="google_translate_element"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Some javascript here
</script>

I also want your Regular expression - RegEx - to skip any <code between <div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script type="text/javascript"> and </script> - there are many <script tags and so, it should skip what is between <div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script type="text/javascript"> and </script> as well as any <code between </code> and <style

This RegEx worked but maybe you can improve upon it: (?s)(<code.*?code\x20\{\s*font-family|<div id="google_translate_element"></div>\s*<script.*?</script>)(*SKIP)(*F)|<code

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105869https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105869Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:11:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:46:17 GMT]]>Hello, @dr-ramaanand and all,

If I assume that any line <style .....> always comes right after a line <code....>....</code>, a possible solution is :

(?s-i)<code(?:(?!</style>).)+?</code>(?=\R<style (?:(?!code ?{).)*?</style>)

Test it against this sample text :

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code{
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
</style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css"></style>

<code............>............</code>
<style type="text/css">
code {
  font-family: &quot;verdana&quot;;
  font-size: 19px;
  color: black;
  font-weight: bold !important;
  line-height: 1 !important;
  }
}
</style>

As you can see, it select only the line <code....>....</code> when the following section <style .....</style>, possibly multi-lines, does not contain any string code { or code{ !

Notes :

  • I do not use any Backtracking Control verb

  • In the section <code....</code>, it must not contain any string </style>

  • In the section <style ....</style>, it must not contain any string code { or code{

If you prefer to look for the string <code only and not all the zone <code....>....</code>, use the following regex :

(?s-i)<code(?=(?:(?!</style>).)+?</code>\R<style (?:(?!code ?{).)*?</style>)

Best Regards,

guy038

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105868https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105868Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:46:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:24:37 GMT]]>An alternative Regular expression can be to introduce a negative lookahead between .*? and the code just after it in this Regex: <code.*?code\x20\{\s*font-family

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105867https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105867Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:24:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:35:58 GMT]]>I have relied on the explanation of the (*SKIP)(*FAIL) method mentioned at https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/26812/generic-regex-how-to-use-the-couple-of-backtracking-control-verbs-skip-fail-or-skip-f-in-regexes/5

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105865https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105865Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:35:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:45:20 GMT]]>(?s)<code.*?code\x20\{\s*font-family(*SKIP)(*F)|<code works but I would like an expert to confirm if it is the best method
@peterjones @alan-kilborn @guy038 or anyone else willing to help, if you have any alternative method also, I am willing to use it, since some of you dislike the (*SKIP)(*F) method

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105864https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105864Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:45:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to With the help of a Regex, how to find "code" preceded by a "<" only if "code {" is absent between "<style" and "</style>" in the css section which is below ? on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:54:41 GMT]]>I tried this Regular expression but it did not help: <code(?!(?:(?!<\/style>)(?s:.) )*<style>) - it matches both (I want it to skip finding the <code...... in example 2 since there is a “code” between “<style” and “</style>”)

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105863https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/105863Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:54:41 GMT