Converting backslashes into forward slashes using

Question

I have a javascript variable comming from legacy system with backslashes into forward slashes:

'/46\465531_Thumbnail.jpg'

and I am trying to convert into this:

'/46/465531_Thumbnail.jpg'.

There is no way to fix the problem on the legacy system.

Here is the command I am running on IE8 browser:

javascript:alert("/46\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));

as response I get:

---------------------------
Message from webpage
---------------------------
/46&5531_Thumbnail.jpg
---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

actually I just want to be translated as '/46/465531_Thumbnail.jpg'

What is wrong?

Answer 1

You need to double the backslash in your string constant:

alert("/46\\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));

If your legacy system is actually creating JavaScript string constants on your pages with embedded, un-quoted (that is, not doubled) backslashes like that, then it's broken and you'll have problems. However, if you're getting the strings via some sort of ajax call in XML or JSON or whatever, then your code looks OK.

Answer 2

Nothing wrong with the replace. The input is wrong.

javascript:alert("/46\\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));
                     ^
                     \----------------  need to escape this!

Answer 3

The replacement part isn't the problem, it's the string itself. Your string:

"/46\465531_Thumbnail.jpg"

isn't /46\465531. Rather, the backslash is acting as an escape character. You need to change it to:

javascript:alert("/46\\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));

ie, escapeing the backslash with a backslash.

Answer 4

It is actually interpreting \46 as an escape-code sequence for the character &. If you are going to hard-code the string, you need to escape the \:

alert("/46\\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));
          ^^ change \ to \\

Sample: http://jsfiddle.net/6QWE9/