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Say I have a string {100 aa bbc%j%b%wa ajjcj11j0%2wj fc} with a lot of undesired characters or spaces in it, for example: {" ", "%", "w", "j"}. I'd like to strip the string of these characters, with the provided example giving us the output string:

testString = "100 aa bbc%j%b%wa ajjcj11j0%2wj fc";
StringReplace[testString, {" ", "%", "w", "j"} -> ""]

out: "100aabbcbaac1102fc";

Now, say we don't have a convenient list of undesired characters / spaces / paragraph indicators / etc. Is there a way to select for certain characters instead of specifying that certain characters should be deleted (as in the example)?

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  • $\begingroup$ @b.gatessucks Ah, you have to double click to select the full alphanumeric string, and I wasn't paying enough attention! $\endgroup$ – Bob2Alice Apr 1 '14 at 7:36
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testString = "100 aa bbc%j%b%wa ajjcj11j0%2wj fc";
StringJoin@StringCases[testString, {"a", "j", "c", " "}]

(* aa cja ajjcjjj c *)

The second argument for StringCases can use character ranges, etc.

As to "bulk" but specific upcase/downcase, something like:

StringReplace[%, (# -> ToUpperCase[#]) & /@ {"c", "j"}]

(*  aa CJa aJJCJJJ C *)
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  • $\begingroup$ This is terrific, thank you. $\endgroup$ – Bob2Alice Apr 1 '14 at 7:39
  • $\begingroup$ Also works with StringSplit. $\endgroup$ – b.gates.you.know.what Apr 1 '14 at 7:45
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    $\begingroup$ @b.gatessucks: Good idea- you should post as an answer, I think the more examples of different ways, the better. $\endgroup$ – ciao Apr 1 '14 at 7:46
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Another way using RegularExpression

StringReplace[testString, RegularExpression["[^ajc ]"] :> ""]

Gives:

 aa cja ajjcjjj c
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