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Pattern Matching

Consider the following variables
$line = "Color printers are laser color printers";
$match_str = "color";

I have to match and replace $match_str in $line with $match_str. But 'color' inside tag should not be matched and replaced .

My output should be
Color printers are laser color printers .

I am searching for 'color' ($match_str) in the given $line to highlight that word in red color . The pattern should not match 'color' inside the FONT tag . But it should match and highlight the word 'color' in the line other than the one inside FONT .

How to search this pattern match and replace ?

Thanks for the help.
Lakshmi

ozo

Which of the three "color"s above should be replaced, and what should they be replaced with?

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ozo

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lakshmisubram

ASKER

Thank you so much !! It's working fine .
Can you please explain your regex in words ? ( Since I am novice in regex )

ozo

b\Q$match_str\E\b matches the word "color"
(<[^<>]*>) matches a string in <> and saves it in $1
$1||qq<$match_str<\/FONT>> puts the $1 back, or inserts Color

lakshmisubram

ASKER

Thanks you so much !!It's more clear to me now .