You can also use Lisp expressions to calculate parts of the
replacement string. To do this, write @samp{\,} followed by the
expression in the replacement string. Each replacement calculates the
-value of the expression, which ought to be a string, and uses it in
+value of the expression and converts it to text without quoting (if
+it's a string, this means using the string's contents), and uses it in
the replacement string in place of the expression itself. If the
expression is a symbol, one space in the replacement string after the
-symbol name counts as part of the symbol name, so the value replaces
-them both.
-
- Inside such an expression, @samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{n}} used as
-subexpressions refer respectively to the entire match as a string, and
-to a submatch as a string. @var{n} may exceed 9 here, and the value
-of @samp{\@var{n}} is @code{nil} if subexpression @var{n} did not
-match. You can also use @samp{\#&} and @samp{\#@var{n}} refer to
-those matches converted to numbers (this is valid when the match or
-submatch has the form of a number). @samp{\#} stands for the number
-of already-completed replacements.
+symbol name goes with the symbol name, so the value replaces them
+both.
+
+ Inside such an expression, you can use some special sequences.
+@samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{n}} refer here, as usual, to the entire
+match as a string, and to a submatch as a string. @var{n} may be
+multiple digits, and the value of @samp{\@var{n}} is @code{nil} if
+subexpression @var{n} did not match. You can also use @samp{\#&} and
+@samp{\#@var{n}} to refer to those matches as numbers (this is valid
+when the match or submatch has the form of a numeral). @samp{\#} here
+too stands for the number of already-completed replacements.
Repeating our example to exchange @samp{x} and @samp{y}, we can thus
do it also this way:
\,(if \1 "y" "x") @key{RET}
@end example
- The @code{format} function (@pxref{Formatting Strings,,,elisp, GNU
-Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}) comes in handy for computing replacement
-strings for @samp{\,}. For example, to add consecutively numbered
+ For computing replacement strings for @samp{\,}, the @code{format}
+function is often useful (@pxref{Formatting Strings,,,elisp, GNU Emacs
+Lisp Reference Manual}). For example, to add consecutively numbered
strings like @samp{ABC00042} to columns 73 @w{to 80} (unless they are
already occupied), you can use
If you want to enter part of the replacement string by hand each
time, use @samp{\?} in the replacement string. Each replacement will
-enter a recursive edit, with point at the position where the @samp{\?}
-was. For example,
+ask you to edit the replacement string in the minibuffer, putting
+point where the @samp{\?} was. For example,
@example
M-x replace-regexp @key{RET} \footnote@{ @key{RET}