Filter based on ctype_print()

[Rick Emery <rick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a function that retrieves data from a database and prints it as 
XML. I have a page that loads the data into simple_xml and outputs it 
in the browser. Certain data causes simple_xml to display a parse error 
(I have no control over the data that goes into the database). I've 
been able to determine which data will cause the problem using the 
ctype_print() function on the element contents, and replace it with 
"This remark contains non-printable characters" so that simple_xml 
doesn't fail, something like this:

$xmlOutput .= '<remark>';
if (ctype_print($remarks['Remark'])) {
  $xmlOutput .= htmlentities($remarks['Remark']);
} else {
  $xmlOutput .= 'This remark contained non-printable characters';
}
$xmlOutput .= '</remark>';

What I really want to do is replace the non-printable character(s) with 
printable character(s) (maybe a question mark, or a space), but haven't 
been able to find a function that will do it. Maybe something like:

$xmlOutput .= '<remark>';
$xmlOutput .= ctype_print_replace($remarks['Remark'], '');
$xmlOutput .= '</remark>';

where the function would replace any non-printable characters with the 
empty string. If something doesn't exist, I could probably write one 
myself using preg_replace, but would need a regular expression to find 
non-printable characters; I'm terrible at regular expressions.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Rick
--
Rick Emery

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
                                             -- Leonardo Da Vinci

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