Why, I didn't even think the way of evaluation. Deconstructing -- 

(bar.+?qux)|(foo)          # capture anything with 'bar' and 'foo' as 
                           # bookends in $1 OR
                           # all other 'foo' in $2
defined $2 ? '123' : $1    # if $2 exists, replace it with 123
                           # otherwise replace $1 back into 
                           # the string
]ge                        # eval globally

[download]

Thanks. I am glad to see this was beyond my league without your help.

Update: BrowserUK, how on earth do you even begin to think this twisted? I can't fathom how to "practice" regexp matching other than answering questions from novices such as myself. I have been scanning Friedl's book, but I guess nothing substitutes for practice at ever increasing levels of complexity, much like a video game. Well, thanks for getting me over this particular hump for now.

--

when small people start casting long shadows, it is time to go to bed

In reply to Re^2: Match a pattern only if it is not within another pattern by punkish
in thread Match a pattern only if it is not within another pattern by punkish

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