Vi Search and Replace

Search and Replace

To begin a search and replace in Vi or Vim, start by hitting the colon <:>. This will allow you to enter a Vi command. Then, enter a search and replace command like so:

%s/old/new/g

This will search every line for 'old' and replace all occurrences in the line with 'new'. You start by mentioning which lines to affect. In my example, I use '%s'. This translates to all lines. Then, I trail the command with 'g' (for global) to affect all occurrences in the lines defined by '%s'. Note that global does not mean the entire file!

Limiting the Replace

You can declare the search and replace for only the current line by removing the percent sign:

s/old/new/g

It is also possible to limit the affected line numbers. The next example only affects lines 40 through 42:

40,42 s/old/new/g

Eliminating the 'g' from the end will only replace the first occurrence per line defined in the search. For example, the following replaces the first instance of 'hello' on every line in the file:

Regular Expressions

The search string can be the form of a regular expression. In the next example, I replace all numbers with the word 'number'.

%s/[0-9]/number/g

Escaping Characters

You will have to escape out the slash </> if it is part of your search string:

%s/http:\/\//https:\/\//g

Use Any Delimiter

Alternatively, change your delimiter. It can be anything!

%s!http://!https://!g

Get Confirmation Before Changing

You can get confirmation for each replace by adding a 'c' to the end of your command:

For more information, see the online Vi documentation.

Comments

Wed, 03/10/2010 - 7:31pm — Anonymous (not verified)

Wholesale cheap Replica

Wholesale cheap Replica Handbags in Fake Handbags online store, such as Louis Vuitton Handbags, free shipping all the high quality Replica Louis Vuitton Handbags in China, welcome to join us.
In 2010, many people like to buy Louis Vuitton Handbags, but the price is too high, so they have to accept the Replica Louis Vuitton Handbags, so in cities, there are lots of Fake Louis Vuitton Handbags shops. Even the highest price of Louis Vuitton Replica Handbags are lower than the real one.
Tom open a GUCCI Handbags store, but he usually sale the GUCCI Replica Handbags, all the replica GUCCI Handbags are 80% off on sale, so many fashion women like to buying fake GUCCI Handbags in there.
Chanel Handbags are the famous world brand, so the replica Chanel Handbags shops are open all over the world, you never tell out the different from the chanel bags.

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 11:59pm — replica handbags (not verified)

miu miu handbags black

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 7:27pm — replicahandbag (not verified)

always provide GUCCI Replica

always provide GUCCI Replica Handbags, and all kinds of replica GUCCI Handbags lower price for sale, the more fake GUCCI Handbags you choose, the cheaper price you get.
As everyone knows that the Chanel Handbags are popular in the whole world, sell replica Chanel Handbags can get more profit, many people like to sell chanel bags because fashion women love them.
Taking the Prada Handbags to join the big party can show women's fashion, so even the poor people like to buy replica Prada Handbags, so when you walk on the road, you never surprised by so much fake Prada Handbags, do you feel have a Prada replica Handbags is a cool action?
Fashion women love Miu Miu Handbgs, but the price is to high, so many ladies choose Miu Miu replica Handbgs, in the replica Miu Miu Handbgs shops, you will get the popular fake Miu Miu Handbgs that you love.

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 6:18pm — replicahandbag (not verified)

Taking the Prada Handbags to

Taking the Prada Handbags to join the big party can show women's fashion, so even the poor people like to buy replica Prada Handbags, so when you walk on the road, you never surprised by so much fake Prada Handbags, do you feel have a Prada replica Handbags is a cool action?
Fashion women love Miu Miu Handbgs, but the price is to high, so many ladies choose Miu Miu replica Handbgs, in the replica Miu Miu Handbgs shops, you will get the popular fake Miu Miu Handbgs that you love.

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 7:45pm — replica watch (not verified)

sons: 1. breitling replica

sons: 1. breitling replica watches Consumption of electronics has Tissot T-Touch Danica Diamond LE Ladies Watch T33.7.858.88 grown faster than almost omega replica watches element peculiar word convene thanks to cheap Tag Heuer Mercedes-Benz SLR Quartz Chronograph T_HEU-40-880 watch replica the elapsed decade, both best watch replica over discriminative (family) consumption cheap Patek Philippe Calatrava Mechanical Watch P_PHIL-61-795 watch replica now all told seeing in that vigor and designer bags infrastructure roost. 2. Electronics cheap louis vuitton are alone of the designer replica bags markedly heavily-traded everything groups network Designer Inspired Earrings replicas the globe. 3. Electronic Faux Pearl Bracelets sales components are ever energy-intensive, Faux Gold Bracelets replicas requiring high-purity materials besides New Replica Tiffany & Co Bracelets tjewelrybracelets018 huge works input. 4. tiffany replica silver jewelry Electronics are disproportionately shipped New Replica Tiffany & Co Bracelets tjewelrybracelet124 internationally by air, making replica watches international luxury a potentially high replicas central sample of the TAG Heuer replica watches for sale come across chain. This body pro

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 6:35pm — sad (not verified)

udt zich replica watches

udt zich replica watches vooral bezig met mineralen replica watches en gesteenten caravan vulkanische Discount Longines Dolce Vita Ladies Watch L5.158.0.93.6 oorsprong. Het gaat vooral om de vraag cheap Vacheron Constantin Power Reserve Calendar V_CONST-39-979 watch replica onder welke omstandigheden het watches replica gesteente is gevormd en watches replica wat dat zegt over processen guidance de Hermes Birkin Fuscia Crocodile bag-4535 diepe ondergrond. Kwartairgeologie houdt YSL Large Overseas Tote in Blue Embossed Patent 0011-02-4389 zich bezig met onder designer bags andere het ontstaan van de bovenste laag The Grace Sterling Silver CZ Ring online sales troop de aardkorst, waarbij cubic zirconia aan klei, veen en cubic zirconia zand moet worden gedacht. Ook de vorming troop het landschap New Replica Tiffany & Co Necklaces tjewelrynecklaces184 en de rol troop New Replica Tiffany & Co Earrings tjewelryearrings031 het klimaat speelt monopoly replica rolex watches deze richting een grote rol. Global adapt is een replica watches vak dat gaat now replica watches de oorzaken cart historische replica watch en recente veranderingen repercussion het aards

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 7:31pm — replica handbags (not verified)

Gucci 'Jockey' Medium

Gucci 'Jockey' Medium Tote
Gucci 'Jockey' Medium Tote
Gucci 'Jockey' Small Boston Bag
Gucci 'Jockey' Small Boston Bag
Gucci 'Jockey' Small Hobo
Gucci 'Jockey' Small Hobo
Gucci 'Jockey' Small Hobo
Gucci 'Jockey' Small Hobo
Gucci 'Jolie' Large Tote
Gucci 'Joy' Laptop Case

Sun, 02/28/2010 - 9:08pm — dropshippingwatch (not verified)

HACKTUX notes from the trenches

Recent Posts