Re: query-replace-regexp ... "Invalid repacement string '\.'"

[Malte Spiess]

David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org> writes:

> "s. keeling" <keeling@spots.ab.ca> writes:
>
>> Hi.  I was trying to make it easy on myself using q-r-r replacing
>> '[^\]\.' (not a backslash, followed by a literal dot/period) with the
>> string (sans quotes) '\.', essentially "escaping" every dot/period in
>> the file.  "M-x query-replace" had no trouble with it but M-x
>> query-replace-regexp refused, spouting the error message in the
>> subject.
>>
>> So how do you replace '.' with '\.' in emacs?  Googling's
>> (groups.google.com) turned up nothing useful (interesting, but not
>> useful).  I tried variations of '\\\.' (literal backslash followed by
>> literal period) to no effect.
>>
>> Suggestions or pointers welcome.  Thanks.
>
> M-x query-replace-regexp RET \. RET \\. RET

That would not work if there already is a "\" in the text. Your other
proposal is much better IMHO. (I think he does not want "\." to be
replaced with "\\.".)

I guess you just wanted to describe the general concept, this is just to
prevent confusion for other readers.

Greetings

Malte