MATLAB: How to replace any number of repeating characters in a string or character array

regexstrrepText Analytics Toolbox

I have Evil input text from which I need to extract tabular data for csv output.
The principle challenge is removing any number of the repeating …. character, while not removing single instances of a period.
I'd like to replace the repeating character with a comma so that the text can be turned into a CSV-style output. Note that there are other commas also present that should remain.
Here's an example.
EVIL TEXT INPUT:
Riots, Tips and Other Cleverness:…………………………..$49,000.21
Submission Flavor:………………………………………Original document
REQUIRED CLEAN CSV OUTPUT:
'Riots, Tips and Other Cleverness',49000.21
'Submission Flavor','Original document'

Best Answer

Something like this
str = fileread('test.txt');
new_str = regexprep(str, ':\.{2,}', ',')
Result
new_str =
'Riots, Tips and Other Cleverness,$49,000.21
Submission Flavor,Original document'