Remove Indentation from SRT

[Vidd]

I used ffmpeg to batch convert some ttml/vtt subtitles to srt. I then noticed that there are random indents at the beginning of some lines in the SRT file.

For example:

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,000
 one
two
  three

2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,000
one
  two
 three

I would like it to be:

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,000
one
two
three

2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,000
one
two
three

I've been using Subtitle Edit 4.0.4, but can't find a setting to remove indentation.
Is there a way to batch it in Subtitle Edit or another way to batch remove the indentations?

[Moralez]

I don't know about a batch convert but I would use MS Word to make changes. SE can do it under Edit > Replace but you might have a hard time removing a single space at the beginning of a line since there are single spaces throughout the SRT. In Word just add a ^p in front of the spaces ("^p ") without the quotes. In SE I don't know how you signify a CR/LF. The ^p would make it a unique search since it follows a line.
Sorry, I keep editing this reply.
When you replace just replace with a ^p. So find "^p ", replace "^p".

[Vidd]

I found the option in Subtitle Edit. I'll post it here in case anyone else has the same issue.

Tools --> Fix common errors --> Remove unneeded spaces


Thanks for the helpful suggestion Moralez. I have too many files to do each one manually so I need to do it batch. But your method would work great for someone who only has to make a few edits. Thanks.

[jagabo]

Many advanced text editors have search and replace commands that would allow you to replace a newline followed by a space (or several spaces) with just a newline. Since SRT files are plain text you can use any of those editors.

Even Notepad can do this:

Search for:

Shift+RightArrow Space

replace with:

Shift+RightArrow

Where Shift+RightArrow means hold down the shift button and press Right Arrow (you won't see anything in the search text). Space means type the space bar.

[pcspeak]

I use this, it's tiny 263KB. http://findandreplace.io/
It has a built in GUI, just run it to see.
It also works in command line mode (--cl)
This is my batch file. Each of the 3 iterations removes one space from the beginning of a line. If you set it to do 5, then all leading spaces should be removed.
no_spaces.cmd

@echo off
 for %%a in ("*.txt") do (
    fnr.exe --cl --dir "%CD%" --fileMask "*.srt" --silent --useRegEx --useEscapeChars --find "^ " --replace ""
    fnr.exe --cl --dir "%CD%" --fileMask "*.srt" --silent --useRegEx --useEscapeChars --find "^ " --replace ""
    fnr.exe --cl --dir "%CD%" --fileMask "*.srt" --silent --useRegEx --useEscapeChars --find "^ " --replace ""
)
 pause

I also have these lines in my batch file to remove any font colour characteristics that are not the default for a srt. i.e. white.

    fnr.exe --cl --dir "%CD%" --fileMask "*.srt" --silent --useRegEx --useEscapeChars --find "\</font\>" --replace ""
    fnr.exe --cl --dir "%CD%" --fileMask "*.srt" --silent --useRegEx --useEscapeChars --find "\<font color.{10,}\>" --replace ""

Suddenly finding the font changing to yellow or, yetch!, lime green, annoys me.
Cheers.

[jack_666]

You may find this useful. Consider this, not as a humbug but, as an opportunity to learn something new.


Create a loop that will capture all your subtitle files. There are numerous examples of doing this in this very forum.


For each file found execute

sed -e "s#^ *##"

this code will find all lines that begin with one or multiple spaces and delete all the spaces.


I suspect this question was asked and answered multiple times before.






Although sed is not shipped with windows, it is a free download.


This should take no more than 5 lines of code and you will be quite happy with your accomplishment.

[_Al_]

To widen a collection of solutions, using python to remove leading space characters in srt files in a directory:

from pathlib import Path
import sys

def main(directory):
    #batch remove leading space characters for a srt files in a directory
    print(f'changed files:')
    for text_file in Path(directory).glob("*.srt"):
        if process_text(text_file):
            print(f'  {text_file}')
        
def process_text(text_file):
    #remove leading space characters from a text file
    text_file = str(text_file)
    with open(text_file) as f:
        is_change = False
        lines=list(f)
        for i, line in enumerate(lines):
            if line.startswith(" "):
                is_change = True
                lines[i]=line.lstrip()
    if is_change:
        with open(text_file,'w') as f:
            f.write(''.join(lines))
    return is_change

if __name__ == '__main__':
    """
    Usage:
    python "delete_leading_spaces.py" "D:/my_directory" 
    """
    try:
        main(sys.argv[1])
    except IndexError:
        raise IndexError('No directory argument passed') from None