ok, have been fiddling on regexr.com long while , i'm still having no joy. this sample data: <html><body><p>7792,783,5365514 -1,1,-1 6329,46,72141 -1,1,-1 8595,42,49104 -1,1,-1 14386,21,5026 6172,52,128182 6311,51,114826 9108,43,51437 8257,24,7050 5289,55,169099 -1,1,-1 15667,26,8919 29,79,1861956 32,83,2681719 4595,32,16506 8469,22,6113 -1,1,-1 -1,1,-1 -1,1,-1 7912,50,102981 -1,1,-1 6951,15,2579 -1,1,-1 4830,46,70571 6617,24,7553 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 -1,-1 </p></body></html> what want do, replace entire string each number. so... run regex once, , replace string 7792. run again , replace 783. run again, replace 5365514 , on. how build first, second , third regex? can work out form there... the numbers parts of change. rest stay same anytime run. ok, have worked out solution though not best. still wondering if has better