match any number of spaces after a paragaph (^p)

[vinci]

Hello,

I've been searching the internet to find out how I can use regular expressions to delete the spaces that start a line, using the ^p.



If I have a document with a random number of spaces at the beginning of some lines, I can't use both ^p and {1,} (with a space before {1,}), because ^p doesn't support the wildcard option. Of course, I wouldn't want to start matching the highest amount of spaces and then decrease it gradually. I'd like to match any number of spaces at the beginning of lines.

How could I do that?

Thank you!

[Robert2]

Use a wildcard Find/Replace with the following:
Find What: ^13 {1,}
Replace With: ^13

[vinci]

Originally Posted by Robert2

Use a wildcard Find/Replace with the following:
Find What: ^13 {1,}
Replace With: ^13

Could you please explain what ^13 means exactly? Why is it exactly 13 and not another number? What do they symbolize exactly? Thanks!

Later edit: Ok, so it's the same with ^p, but it works with wildcards, now I get it.

@macropod:
So you mean to say that it works with ^p in the replace tab, even though the wildcard option is turned on?

Another later edit: Well, it works with ^p, but it also works with ^13, so I'd tend to ask you the same question as Robert did.

[macropod]

You can do that with a wildcard Find/Replace using:
Find What: ^13[ ]{1,}
Replace With: ^p
You should not use ^13 for the replacement.

[Robert2]

Originally Posted by macropod

You should not use ^13 for the replacement.

@macropod
Why such a stern pronouncement? Both ^13 and ^p work fine in the Replace With box in Word 2007. Have things changed in Word 2011 for Mac?

[Robert2]

For unexplained reasons, ^13 is the code that has to be used in the Find What box to search for Paragraph Marks when the “Use wildcards” option is ON. Have a look at https://support.office.com/en-SG/article/replace-text-using-wildcards-5cda8b1b-2feb-45a6-af0e-824173d3d6e4]Use codes to find letters, formatting, fields, or special characters. However, and as far as I am aware, both ^13 and ^p can be used in the Replace With box, irrespective of whether the “Use wildcards” option is ON or OFF. I personally use ^13 in both boxes not to complicate things needlessly.

[macropod]

^13 and ^p are not the same. ^13 can result in the insertion of a ¶ symbol that looks like a paragraph break but isn't.

[Robert2]

Originally Posted by macropod

^13 and ^p are not the same. ^13 can result in the insertion of a ¶ symbol that looks like a paragraph break but isn't.

@macropod
In Word 2007 at least, ^13 does not result in the insertion of a pilcrow sign (HTML decimal entity 182). ^13 in the Replace With box actually inserts a non-printing formatting paragraph end mark that can later be found by placing ^13 in the Find What box. The Paragraph Marks inserted through ^13 in the Replace With box do not print. They are genuine non-printing formatting paragraph end marks.

If you know of cases when this is untrue, please give detailed examples.

[macropod]

Originally Posted by Robert2

If you know of cases when this is untrue, please give detailed examples.

How about doing a bit of research for yourself. The behaviour is well-enough documented...

[Robert2]

Originally Posted by macropod

How about doing a bit of research for yourself. The behaviour is well-enough documented...

Despite what you so nicely imply, I have already researched this abundantly. And I haven’t found anything to substantiate your assertion regarding this topic. On the contrary, at Special characters you can use with Find and Replace in Word I found this:

The following characters can be used in both the Find what and Replace with boxes:
^13 or ^p Carriage return/paragraph mark

This page was written to support Office 2003. Have things changed since? Where does it say so?
Please be a little bit more helpful!

[macropod]

Perhaps you should look a little harder. A web search for:
Word wildcard replace ^13
quickly turned up these three articles.

First we have Miscrosoft's own Find and replace text by using regular expressions (Advanced) article at:
https://support.office.com/en-US/Art...8-85b0ad1c427f
which says:

Misusing the ^13 code in a replace operation can essentially convert your document into a file that you cannot format.

Then there's the MVP article Finding and replacing characters using wildcards, at:
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/UsingWildcards.htm
which says:

If you use ^13 in a replace string, invalid characters, that look like paragraph marks but aren't, will be inserted – so beware!

Yet another article, Find and Replace using wildcards, at:
http://www.gmayor.com/replace_using_wildcards.htm
says:

^p DOES NOT WORK in wildcard search strings! It must however be used in replacement strings, but when searching, you must look for the substitute code ^13.

This advice pre-dates even Word 2000 and is still current, as the MS article demonstrates.

[Robert2]

OK. I stand corrected.
Thanks, macropod.