c# - Pattern Replacement using regular expression -

i want replace [cite:lamport94] \cite{lamport94} using regular expression in c#.

string input = "how easy create structured document within [cite:lamport94].  should able see."  string output = "how easy create structured document within \cite{lamport94}.  should able see." 

here code can use. capture alphanumeric string inside square brackets ":" delimiter:

 var input = "how easy create structured document within [cite:lamport94].  should able see.";  var rxreg = new regex(@"\[(\w+):(\w+)]");  var result = rxreg.replace(input, @"\$1{$2}"); 

output:

how easy create structured document within \cite{lamport94}.  should able see. 

btw, if have more [a-za-z0-9_] characters inside brackets, can extend \w [\w.:-] (the pattern prefer match mm.xxx, or xx-yy, or xx:yyyy strings. add more if need (mind hyphen must stay @ end of character class stay literal hyphen).

to limit cite, use instead of first \w:

 var rxreg = new regex(@"\[cite:(\w+)]");  var result = rxreg.replace(input, @"\cite{$1}");