regex simple pattern fails

[s1w]

Problem looks easy. I havent issue like this in other languages, I cant find reason. PythonScript for Notepad++:

non-greedy html comment removal for entity:
    <!- <input id="file_upload" type="file"/> -> ass ->

python script: (?P<begin> and ?P<end> group names are for clearness)

import re
line = editor.getCurLine()
p = re.compile('(?P<begin><!--+)(?P<between>.*?)(?P<end>--+>)')
if '<!--' in line or '-->' in line:
    console.write(p.sub(r'\g<between>', line)) 
else:
    console.write('not commented.. ' + line)

results:
      <input id="file_upload" type="file"/>  ass ->

works satisfactorily.

but if I want to implement conditional (?) / {0,1} occurrences for <begin> or <end>:
1) '(?P<begin><!-+)?(?P<between>.*?)(?P<end>-+>)?'
2) '(<!-+)?(?P<between>.*?)(-+>)?'
the result looks GREEDY/or replaced in all occurences.. count=x flag wont help - disables replacements at all.

other pattern tryings with similar result is failing too:
3) '(<!-+){0,1}(?P<between>.*?)(-+>){0,1}'  replacement =  r'\g<between>'
4) '(<!-+)?(?:.*?)(-+>)?'  replacement =  ''
5) '(?:<!-+)?(.*?)(?:-+>)?'  replacement =  '\\1'

all results are:
<input id="file_upload" type="file"/>  ass

(last '->' should stood). any clue?

[s1w]

easy way: importing string and using 3 commands /I really wanted to avoid that way:

import re, string
line = editor.getCurLine()
if '<!--' in line or '-->' in line:
    line = re.sub('(?<=<!)-{3,}', '--', line)
    line = re.sub('-{3,}(?=>)', '--', line)
    line = line.replace("<!--", "", 1).replace("-->", "", 1)
else:
    line = re.sub('(\s*)(.*)\s*\n', '\\1<!-- \\2 -->', line)

result:
+ allows conditional instances of '<!-' and '->' in NON-GREEDY way
+ shortens '<!------' and '------->' cases
- unfortunately allows removal reversed setting of comments "-> . . . <!-"

but of course Ive created a magic pattern to do this all, and I challenge anyone to shorten it

import re
line = editor.getCurLine()
p1 = re.compile('^(.*?)((?P<lt><!--+)|(?P<rt>--+>))(?P<block>.*?)((?(rt)|(?(lt)--+>|<!--+))|$)')
p2 = re.compile('(\s*)(.*)\s*\n')
if '<!--' in line or '-->' in line:
    line = p1.sub(r'\1\g<block>', line)
else:
    line = p2.sub('\\1<!-- \\2 -->', line)

[s1w]

missing explanation: function of this script was to fast process single line without selection. To check validity of html comments in multiline, I am going to do another thing..

[s1w]

one more correction:

p1 = re.compile('^(.*?)((?P<lt><!--+)|(?P<rt>--+>))(?P<block>.*?)((?(rt)|(?(lt)((?=<!--+)|--+>)))|$)')

+ now it also poperly handles   "-> . . . <!-"  and  "<!- .  . <!- .  . ->" cases, it will be well self-explanatory during exploitation

[s1w]

there rly should be edit option. there was little error in code. here is full and tested html comment script for Notepad++:

import re
line = editor.getCurLine()
p1 = re.compile('^(.*?)((?P<lt><!--+\s*)|(?P<rt>\s*--+>))(?P<block>.*?)((?(rt)|(?(lt)((?=<!--+\s*)|\s*--+>)))|$)')
p2 = re.compile('\r?(\s*)(.*)\s*\n')
if '<!--' in line or '-->' in line:
    line = p1.sub(r'\1\g<block>', line).rstrip()
else:
    line = p2.sub(r'\1<!-- \2', line).rstrip() + ' -->'

+ fast comments/uncomments single line without selection
+ allows conditional instances of '<!-' and '->' in NON-GREEDY way
+ shortens '<!------' and '------->' cases
+ correctly handles reversed setting of comments "-> . . . <!-" and recognizes "<!- .  . <!- .  . ->" situations

[s1w]

forgot about printing (add this to the bottom of script):

currentLine  = editor.lineFromPosition(editor.getCurrentPos())
editor.replaceLine(currentLine, line)

[s1w]

here is full, expanded code
https://sourceforge.net/projects/npppythonscript/forums/forum/1199074/topic/4559654/index/page/1
http://snipplr.com/view/55184/toggle-html-comment-pythonscript-for-notepad/