First of all, do not be overwhelmed by the long code, I just put it for reference...I have a function that runs preg_replace on each comment users post and puts matches in a jquery dialog box with a matching open-link. For example, if there is a paragraph with two matches, they will be put inside two divs, and a jquery dialog function will be echoed twice; one for each div.

While this works for one match, if there are multiple matches, it does not. I am not sure how to distribute unique ids at a point in time for each of the divs and matching dialog open-scripts. Keep in mind, I removed the preg replace function since it kind of complicates the problem. If anyone has any ideas, they will be greatly appreciated.

<?php
    $id=uniqid();
    $id2=uniqid();

    echo "<div id=\"$id2\">
      </div>";
?>   
     $.ui.dialog.defaults.bgiframe = true;
     $(function() {
      $("<?php echo"#$id2"; ?>").dialog({hide: 'clip', modal: true
    ,width: 600,height: 350,position: 'center',
    show: 'clip',stack: true,title: 'title', minHeight: 25,
    minWidth: 100, autoOpen: false});

       $('<?php echo"#$id"; ?>').click(function() {
       $('<?php echo"#$id2"; ?>').dialog('open');
      })
      .hover(
       function(){ 
        $(this).addClass("ui-state-hover"); 
       },
       function(){ 
        $(this).removeClass("ui-state-hover"); 
       }
      ).mousedown(function(){
       $(this).addClass("ui-state-active"); 
      })
      .mouseup(function(){
        $(this).removeClass("ui-state-active");
      });
     });