How to specify whitespace in findstr on Windows?

Question

I want to specify whitespace after a certain word (SetupAX) that I am searching in a file.

I am trying the findstr command this way -

   findstr /n /r "SetupAX[ \r\n\t]" XYZ.frm

However, this doesn't work. If I don't put the whitespace, I get results like -

   findstr /n /r "SetupAX" XYZ.frm

   158: If Filled() Then Call SetupAXForB
   170: SetupAXForC
   196: SetupAX          //<-- correct
   242: Call SetupAX     //<-- correct
   276: Call SetupAXN
   ...

How do I get around this? I only want instances of "SetupAX" and not "SetupAX...". Thanks.

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 27 '21 at 01:43

1

You need to use the /c option. Like this:

findstr /M /S /I /c:"some sentence with spaces" *.*

answered May 27 '21 at 01:43

Fotios Basagiannis

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wallyk · Answer 2 · 2012-03-21T18:57:31.127

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How about using the end of word matching expression?

findstr /n /r "SetupAX\>" XYZ.frm

edited Mar 21 '12 at 18:57

answered Mar 21 '12 at 18:51

wallyk

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Ok, one problem with this is that now things like SetupAX() also show up. – CodeBlue Mar 21 '12 at 19:05
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@CodeBlue with *normal* regexp it would be `SetupAX[ ]|$`, but findstr doesnt' support alternatives (`|`). So you need to search twice: `'SetupAX "` and `"SetupAX$"` – kirilloid Mar 21 '12 at 19:14
@kirilloid Make this an answer and I will "accept" it. Thanks! – CodeBlue Mar 21 '12 at 20:26

kirilloid · Answer 3 · 2012-03-21T21:06:10.613

0

findstr -n -r -c:"SetupAX[ \r\n\t]" works only partially. It doesn't match neither \n nor \r.

With normal regular expressions it could be written as SetupAX[ ]|$, but findstr doesnt' support alternatives (|). So you need to search twice: 'SetupAX " and "SetupAX$"

edited Mar 21 '12 at 21:06

answered Mar 21 '12 at 19:00

kirilloid

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Ok, `\r\n` actually doesn't work. It is only possible to match the end of line with `$`, but it doesn't work inside `[]` – kirilloid Mar 21 '12 at 19:15

How to specify whitespace in findstr on Windows?

3 Answers3