import sys, re pat = re.compile('aa([0-9]*)bb([0-9]*)cc') while 1: line = raw_input('Enter a line ("q" to quit): ') if line == 'q': break mo = pat.search(line) if mo: value1, value2 = mo.group(1, 2) start1 = mo.start(1) end1 = mo.end(1) start2 = mo.start(2) end2 = mo.end(2) print 'value1: %s start1: %d end1: %d' % (value1, start1, end1) print 'value2: %s start2: %d end2: %d' % (value2, start2, end2) repl1 = raw_input('Enter replacement #1: ') repl2 = raw_input('Enter replacement #2: ') newline = line[:start1] + repl1 + line[end1:start2] + repl2 + line[end2:] print 'newline: %s' % newline else: print 'no match'