php reg_replace script remove backslash for search \141 to result a

[dub27]

I have searched and searched and tried and tried...

Can anyone provide assistance with a script as follows:

PHP code
Search and Replace using reg_replace
Search on '\141' that is with a backslash in the search variable
Result to 'a' that is alphanumeric replacement

The reg_replace is removing the backslash in the search retrieval but is placing a backslash in the search replace e.g. '\a'

I have tried using single quotes, double quotes, many variations but cannot find a reg_replace expression to remove the backslash and not include in the result search.:o

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Dub

[djm0219]

If you don't have to use reg_replace try:

$Test = str_replace('\141','a',$Test);

[ns1987]

I think you typo'd, but the function is preg_replace.

Err, try this:
$string = preg_replace('#\\141#', 'a', $string);

[dub27]

Hi, thanks for the response...

Purpose of the script is for a search and replace utility in php. Didn't want to use tools in the market, wanted something I could adapt... I will adapt it further into array, etc.

Script is as follows (using ereg_replace):

function convert($fileName)
{
// get contents of the file into a string
$fd = fopen ($fileName, "r");
$contents = fread ($fd, filesize ($fileName));
fclose ($fd);
if (ereg("\141",$contents))
{
echo ".........Found in $fileName<br>";

$var1 = '\141';
$contents = ereg_replace('141','a',$contents);
$save = 1;
}
else
$save = 0;
if ($save)
{
$fd = fopen ($fileName, "w");
@flock($fd,"LOCK_EX"); // lock file
@fwrite ($fd,$contents); // write to file
@flock($fd,"LOCK_UN"); // release lock
fclose ($fd);
echo ".........Replaced in $fileName<br>";
}
return true;
}
---
The result always returns with '\a' even if the original find is '141' or '\141'. So the query is removing the backslash but is replacing it in the search result.

[ns1987]

You never replace \141, just 141. o_0

The line $var1 = '\141'; is never used afterwards, from what I see.

And since this is all you do, str_replace might be better.

[GJay]

I'm not so experienced with posix REs, but is \ not a special character that needs escaping?
But str_replace really would be a better choice in this situation.

[ns1987]

I'm not so experienced with posix REs, but is \ not a special character that needs escaping?
But str_replace really would be a better choice in this situation.

It does. (See my preg code)

[dub27]

The purpose in this instance is for code obfuscation, I am playing with some concepts. So would like to be able to encode and decode from '\141' to 'a' and backwards from 'a' to '\141'.

Yes, backslash is a special character so I tried methods of escaping it in the result and got close but did not get there withe ereg_replace.

So, is preg_replace my only option?

Thank you again for your assistance.

Dub27

[ns1987]

I still don't see why you don't just use

str_replace('\141', 'a', $string);

???

[GJay]

my previous reply was aimed at the OP, didn't make that very clear :)

[dub27]

Thank you for your help, really appreciate it!