condense multiple url.replace

[turpentyne]

I'm just trying to figure out how to simplify this repetitive set of possible url's to replace:

var url = (document[picName].src);
	   
	   // these all were to replace any of the possible choices if previously made. need to condense

	   
url = url.replace("_transparent", choice);
url = url.replace("_auriculate", choice);
url = url.replace("_cordate", choice);
url = url.replace("_cuneate", choice);
url = url.replace("_deltoid", choice);
url = url.replace("_elliptic", choice);
url = url.replace("_ensiform", choice);
url = url.replace("_falcate", choice);
url = url.replace("_filiform", choice);
document[picName].src = url;

[Old Pedant]

Since replace expects a RegExp as the first argument (but accepts a string), use a regexp.

var re = /_(transparent|auriculate|cordate|...|filiform)/ig;
url = url.replace( re choice);

Put the rest of your values in where the ... is, of course.

The /i flag is optional: It means "ignore case".

[turpentyne]

Cool. that did the trick.

is there a quick little tutorial somewhere that explains the "/ text1 | text2 | text3 /" bit that you put in? I haven't seen that before.

[Philip M]

Originally Posted by turpentyne

Cool. that did the trick.

is there a quick little tutorial somewhere that explains the "/ text1 | text2 | text3 /" bit that you put in? I haven't seen that before.

The symbol | within a regular epression means or. Otherwise the symbol for or is || and for and is &&.

There is a typo in Old Pedant's code:-

url = url.replace( re choice);
should read
url = url.replace( re, choice);// note the comma

[rnd me]

here is a different way of doing it by using an array of matches instead of a RegExp.
this makes it simpler to read and expand (avoiding RX's escapes) and it executes faster than RegExps as well.

var url = (document[picName].src);
	   
	
function repAll( source, froms, to){
  var var i=0, mx=froms.length, it;
  for(i;i<mx;i++){
     source=source.split(r[i]).join(to);
  }
 return source;
}


var keys=["_transparent", "_auriculate", "_cordate", "_cuneate", 
                "_deltoid", "_elliptic", "_ensiform", "_falcate", "_filiform"] ;

document[picName].src = repAll(url, keys, choice );

just another way to skin a cat in js...