re = /(?<=\s)((?:docstring|some_detailed_notes)\s*=\s*\(?\s*(?:\/\/.*\n\s*)*)"((?:[^"\\]|\\.)+)"(\s*\)?\s*;)/m
str = 'class myClassA(myBaseClass) {
docstring = // End-of-line-comments possible
"
This is my class description docstring stored in a string variable inherited from
myBaseClass.
The content of this string, INCLUDING INDENTATION, MUST NOT be changed.
";
docstring = (
"
Enclosed in parentheses
"
);
// This variable is declared as string has a mismatched indentation:
string some_detailed_notes = "Some string like this is also possible.
Also with
some really
strange indentation
and `inline code`, ```code blocks``` $\\\\text{LaTeX}$ $$\\\\frac{1}{2}$$
:::{hint}
some admonitions
:::
and all kind of special characters such as:
\\"
(...)
{...}
[...]
;.,
etc.
which MUST be preserved.";
string some_other_string = "
do NOT touch this, only docstring and some_detailed_notes
";
}'
subst = '\\1R""""\\2""""\\3'
result = str.gsub(re, subst)
# Print the result of the substitution
puts result
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for Ruby, please visit: http://ruby-doc.org/core-2.2.0/Regexp.html