Problem with replace formatter on Node

[Emiel]

I also want to strip dots and commas from a $POST input value (string) and then convert it to a number and also need to edit the expression manually to work around the Field is required alert.

This expression indeed strips the commas from the string and converts it to a string:
$_POST.value.replace(',', '').toNumber()

This also works as expected:
$_POST.value.replace(’.’, ‘’).toNumber()

But the combination always returns 0:
$_POST.value.replace(',', '').replace('.', '').toNumber()

So, “How to strip multiple characters/words from a string” in 2021?

[Emiel]

Solved it using a regular expression:

$_POST.value.replace(/[.,]/g, '').toNumber()

[updates]

Hi

Could you please explain me your working expression ?
It is different from what I always see with formatterà.

Thank you
roberto

[Emiel]

Hi roberto,

@Emiel

/[.,]/g

This part is a regular expression, that’s why it looks so different.

[TomD]

I’m puzzled about how you did this too and would interested in more details.

While you can user regular expressions with the Replace function in App Connect, I thought it wasn’t possible with Server Connect. In my experience it’s not possible (strangely, except for validation), and I thought this had also been confirmed in a one or two threads, like this one.

[Emiel]

It works in SC too:

You have to type the code manually, there’s no way to pick it from the data formatting menu, it actually shows it like this there:

[Teodor]

You guys are most probably working with different server models.
@Emiel there was an issue with replace for nodejs indeed, so replacing characters like , or . was not working correctly.
This will be fixed in tomorrow’s update, so your expression

your_value.replace(',', '').replace('.', '').toNumber()

will work just fine and you won’t have to deal with regexp.

[Emiel]

@Teodor

You guys are most probably working with different server models.

I was just thinking this might be the case. I’m on node js indeed.

Great there’s a fix for the replace function in tomorrow’s update. However, now I set it up this way, is there a downside to it or can I just as well leave it as it is now?

[Teodor]

@Emiel

However, now I set it up this way, is there a downside

No, all is fine. I was just thinking it will be easier to deal with this using the existing formatters.

[TomD]

@Teodor

working with different server models

Yes, I was using PHP. So does regex work with NodeJS in Wappler (if the expressions are entered manually)?

@Teodor

you won’t have to deal with regexp

Regex is difficult - but it can also make things a lot easier and simpler.

[Emiel]

Okay cool, thanks @Teodor

[Teodor]

This has been fixed in Wappler 3.9.0

[TomD]

@TomD

So does regex work with NodeJS in Wappler (if the expressions are entered manually)?

It would be useful to know - thanks.