Editor >> Find and Replace text - can replacement string include a newline character?

[WNM]

When using the Find and Replace function within the LabVIEW editor, is it possible to include a newline (line feed) character within the replacement string?

[aputman]

Have you tried it?  Using a '\n'?

[crossrulz]

I can't think of any reason why not.  Did you try it?  Hint: make a test VI with just the Find And Replace function and the inputs you want and see what happens.

[WNM]

Yes, I did try that before I asked the question. The net result was that the two characters, "\" and "n" were inserted instead of a newline character.

[Kyle97330]

Right-click the string constant and change to " '\' Codes Display " first, then put in "\n".

Note that this will change all of your spaces, tabs, etc in that string to \s, \t, and so on.

[WNM]

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@Kyle97330 wrote:

Right-click the string constant and change to " '\' Codes Display " first, then put in "\n".

Note that this will change all of your spaces, tabs, etc in that string to \s, \t, and so on.

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You do realize that this is the text entry box that's being discussed here?

What you suggest does not work.

[aputman]

I think what Kyle is saying is that once you turn on special codes display, the replace will work as you intend.  The search function apparently only looks at what is visible in the control.  If special codes is turned on, it will search and replace just fine.  If they are turned off, it doesn't interpret '\n' as a newline and you will get unintended results.  

[WNM]

It would be more trouble to go through the project and turn on (& later turn off) the special codes display in the 100+ places where I want to make the change than it would be to make the change manually after just doing a FIND.

[aputman]

Agreed but this is potentially do-able via scripting.  Is this a one-time thing or something you forsee having to do frequently?  

[WNM · Accepted solution]

One time, I hope. 

I just thought that there might be a simple way to do it that I was missing.

It really sounds like there is not.

I can do it manually in less time than it would take to create a script and get it working right.

[aputman]

This snippet will turn on codes display for all string controls in a VI.  It will try to cast everything into strings but I just clear the error and move on.  

NOTE: I would not run this on your working copy unless you have a backup.  Just sayin'.....

[crossrulz]

If you are mucking with the display style, make sure to make the display style visible.  Many issues can be quickly figured out with that turned on.