# Regexreplace multiple strings with a loop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask the Community\ **Created:** [April 2, 2024, 7:28am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717 "2024-04-02T07:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jon\_Dallas](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/jon_dallas/32/30836_2.png) [@Jon\_Dallas](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Jon_Dallas)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 7:28am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/1 "2024-04-02T07:28:46Z")
Hello! Is it possible to use substituteAll() or regexreplace() recursively in a loop on the same original “haystack” text? The goal is to use replace/substitute to wrap multiple words in a paragraph with brackets. So, for example, after selecting “red” and “nose” in Column A, Column B would be "Rudolph the [red] nosed reindeer had a very shiny [nose]. I can use regexreplace() or substituteAll() for this, but only one word at a time. To wrap multiple words in brackets, I would need to nest multiple substituteAll()s. But I want this to be dynamic, i.e., I want it to work with a varying number of words selected. So I think we need to use a loop that can iteratively/recursively wrap each word from the list in brackets. For this we can use formulaMap(). But this formula: ```auto thisRow.[Words to Wrap in Brackets].FormulaMap( SubstituteAll(thisRow.[Original Paragraph],CurrentValue,"["+CurrentValue+"]") ) ``` produces this output: > Rudolph the [red] nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose.,Rudolph the red [nose]d reindeer had a very shiny [nose]. Because it’s recursive, maybe we can use withName(), but I don’t know if withName can redefine already-named variables. [Here](https://coda.io/d/_dPlwhJG7XCB/Regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop_suOU2)’s a test doc. Feel free to make a copy. Thanks for your help! ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Collier-Weir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/scott_collier-weir/32/29677_2.png) [@Scott\_Collier-Weir](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Scott_Collier-Weir)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/2 "2024-04-02T21:14:02Z")
I did this once a long time ago I think the easiest way is that if every target you are after is a single word, simply Split(“ “) Which will turn your paragraph into a list of individual words, then run a forEach() Statement, and for each loop use a switch if statement that conditionally replaces the current value with your bracketed target value Or by default return the current word if it’s not a target word. Then join with a “ “ That will work, if the targets are after not individual words, you can do it with a button in a single helper column that recursively sets the value of the column, replaces the new word, and then resets it Let me know if you need more help ---
**Author:** ![Rickard\_Abraham](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/rickard_abraham/32/35007_2.png) [@Rickard\_Abraham](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Rickard_Abraham)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 5:54am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/3 "2024-04-03T05:54:30Z")
Oh my god, I just found that Coda does have support for regex capturing groups. I’ve been trying `\1` since I’m used to Python, but apparently `$1` is the way to go, like in Javascript! Anyway, this makes this problem much easier! ```auto thisRow.[Original Paragraph].RegexReplace("(" + thisRow.[Words to Wrap in Brackets].Join("|") + ")", "[$1]") ``` https://coda.io/embed/MVRa7tcuGD?viewMode=embedplay#_tuCRS/r78&view=full ---
**Author:** ![Max\_OBrien](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/max_obrien/32/49285_2.png) [@Max\_OBrien](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Max_OBrien)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/4 "2024-04-03T06:06:40Z")
the non-regex idiom is split(‘xxx’).join(‘yyy’) which replaces all instances of xxx with yyy. so you just chain these pairs together. it may not be a fast (measured in micro-seconds) as regex, but its easier to remember. ---
**Author:** ![Rickard\_Abraham](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/rickard_abraham/32/35007_2.png) [@Rickard\_Abraham](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Rickard_Abraham)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 6:23am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/5 "2024-04-03T06:23:07Z")
That’s a pretty clever workaround! But I believe the new `SubstituteAll` replaces the need for that right? ---
**Author:** ![Christiaan\_Huizer](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/christiaan_huizer/32/28269_2.png) [@Christiaan\_Huizer](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Christiaan_Huizer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/6 "2024-04-03T08:56:26Z")
a clever solution for this specific use case: `thisRow.[Original Paragraph].RegexReplace("(" + thisRow.[Words to Wrap in Brackets].Join("|") + ")", "[$1]")` I wonder why @Jon_Dallas needs the , can you enlighten us? ---
**Author:** ![joost\_mineur](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/joost_mineur/32/30539_2.png) [@joost\_mineur](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/joost_mineur)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 12:00pm UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/7 "2024-04-03T12:00:21Z")
@Rickard_Abraham , @Max_OBrien , The RegEx from Rickard allows for multiple search and replaces in one operation, at least the add-brackets type operation. With The CFL functions like ReplaceAll you have to run as many iterations as there are search words and if you don’t work with a temp column you get the repeats of the original text, as mentioned earlier. I think the RegEx the way it is presented by Rickard is one of those gems we every so often run into - thanks. Greetings, Joost ---
**Author:** ![Jon\_Dallas](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/jon_dallas/32/30836_2.png) [@Jon\_Dallas](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/Jon_Dallas)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 5:36am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/8 "2024-04-07T05:36:27Z")
Hey, thanks so much for the solutions ya’ll. @Rickard_Abraham’s solution seems to be most well suited for my purposes here. Just gave it a try and it works perfectly. Really awesome find! @Christiaan_Huizer, as for the specific use-case, I am building a Claude-based resume optimizer. The final resume will contain some fabricated information about the candidate. So I have a helper prompt determine which information was fabricated, then I will use this formula to wrap that information in brackets [like this] to indicate that it’s a placeholder. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/coda1/user_avatar/connect.superhuman.com/system/32/24484_2.png) [@system](https://connect.superhuman.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 5:36am UTC](https://connect.superhuman.com/t/regexreplace-multiple-strings-with-a-loop/47717/9 "2024-04-10T05:36:32Z")
Closed on April 10, 2024, 5:36am UTC This topic was automatically closed 3 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.