Question

$output = preg_replace('|(/D)(/s+)(/d+)(;)|', '//1,//3;', $output); 

I’m trying to replace all alphabetical character followed by one or more whitespace characters (tabs and/or spaces) followed by one or more numerical characters followed by a semicolon with the alphabetical character followed by a comma followed by the numerical digits and then the semicolon.

I’ll provide an example:

Start:

hello world      1007; 

End:

hello world,1007; 

Answer 1

The two | at the start and end probably are incorrect – and should both be forward-slashes.

All other forward slashes should be backward slashes (and need escaping).

And since PHP 4.04 $n is the preferred way of referring to a capture group.

$output = preg_replace('/(\\D)\\s+(\\d+;)/', '$1,$2', $output); 

If you use single quotes you don’t need to escape your backslashes:

$output = preg_replace('/(\D)\s+(\d+;)/', '$1,$2', $output);