SMS: How to Perform a Search and Replace by Using SMS Installer (212941)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
This article was previously published under Q212941

SUMMARY

This article describes one method for searching and replacing text by using Systems Management Server (SMS) Installer. The text source could be a file, an environment variable, a registry key, or other input source. This article is useful after:
  • You have read the text into your script as a variable.
  • You have defined variables for your search and your replace strings.

MORE INFORMATION

To perform a search and replace:
  1. Split the text variable at the occurrence of your search pattern into two destination variables.Append the replace variable to the first part of the split text.Append the second part of the split text to the first part of the split text (which already contains the replace variable). The first part of the split text now is the entire text, with the replaced value.Set the original text variable to the first part of the split text.
  2. Append the replace variable to the first part of the split text.Append the second part of the split text to the first part of the split text (which already contains the replace variable). The first part of the split text now is the entire text, with the replaced value.Set the original text variable to the first part of the split text.
  3. Append the second part of the split text to the first part of the split text (which already contains the replace variable). The first part of the split text now is the entire text, with the replaced value.Set the original text variable to the first part of the split text.
  4. Set the original text variable to the first part of the split text.
The following script example is based on the following conditions:
  • The text to be searched and replaced is in variable TEXT.
  • The string to search is in variable SEARCH.
  • The string to replace the search string is in variable REPLACE.
A search and replace portion of a script it appears in the SMS Installer Script Editor view: 
Parse String "%TEXT%" into PART1 and PART2
Set Variable PART1 to %REPLACE% (Append)
Set Variable PART1 to %PART2% (Append)
Set Variable TEXT to %PART1%
Search and replace portion of the script code (ipf file). To use this example, cut and paste the following code example into the SMS Installer Script editor: 
item: Parse String
  Source=%TEXT%
  Pattern=%SEARCH%
  Variable1=PART1
  Variable2=PART2
 end
item: Set Variable
  Variable=PART1
  Value=%REPLACE%
  Flags=00000001
end
item: Set Variable
  Variable=PART1
  Value=%PART2%
  Flags=00000001
end
item: Set Variable
  Variable=TEXT
  Value=%PART1%
end
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/17/2005
Keywords:kbhowto KB212941
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.