Can You Replace Multiple Lines Of Text In Vim?

2025-07-03 15:31:10 213

3 Answers

Stella
Stella
2025-07-07 19:28:34
I use Vim daily for coding and editing, and one of the most powerful features is its ability to replace multiple lines of text efficiently. To do this, I typically use the substitute command with a range. For example, if I want to replace 'foo' with 'bar' from lines 5 to 10, I'd type ':5,10s/foo/bar/g'. The 'g' flag ensures all occurrences in each line are replaced. This method saves me tons of time compared to manual editing. Vim's regex support also allows for complex patterns, making it even more versatile. If I need to confirm each replacement, I add a 'c' flag like ':5,10s/foo/bar/gc'. This workflow is a game-changer for bulk edits.
Henry
Henry
2025-07-05 19:44:18
As someone who edits large configuration files and scripts regularly, Vim's multi-line replacement capabilities are indispensable. The substitute command is my go-to tool, but I often combine it with visual selection for precision. For instance, I highlight lines in visual mode (Shift+V), then type ':s/old/new/g' to replace text only in the selected lines. This avoids counting line numbers manually.

Another trick I love is using global commands. ':g/search_pattern/s/replace_pattern/g' lets me target lines matching a specific pattern first, then replace within them. This two-step filtering is incredibly powerful for complex edits. For repetitive tasks, I record macros that include substitutions, so I can replay them across files. Learning these techniques transformed my workflow from tedious to effortless.
Kara
Kara
2025-07-05 22:43:43
Replacing text across multiple lines in Vim initially felt intimidating, but now it's second nature. My favorite approach is using the '%' symbol to apply changes to the entire file, like ':%s/old/new/g'. When working with specific blocks, I pair substitutions with motion commands—say, ':<,>s/old/new/g' where '<' and '>' mark a visual selection.

For more control, I use marks. I set mark 'a' (ma) at the start of a section and 'b' (mb) at the end, then run :'a,'bs/old/new/g. This is especially handy in lengthy documents. I also leverage 'gn' to preview matches before replacement. These methods strike a balance between speed and accuracy, crucial for both quick fixes and large-scale refactoring.
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Related Questions

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3 Answers2025-07-03 05:57:38
I've been using Vim for years, and the flags in substitution commands are super handy once you get the hang of them. The basic syntax is :s/pattern/replacement/flags. The 'g' flag replaces all occurrences in the line, not just the first one. The 'c' flag makes Vim ask for confirmation before each replacement, which is great when you want to be careful. The 'i' flag makes the search case insensitive, while 'I' makes it case sensitive. There's also 'e' to suppress errors when the pattern isn't found. My favorite is 'n', which just counts the matches without actually replacing anything. These flags can be combined too, like 'gc' for global replacement with confirmation.

Is There A Shortcut To Replace Text In Vim Quickly?

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I've been using Vim for years, and one of the most efficient ways to replace text quickly is by using the substitute command. The basic syntax is :%s/old/new/g, which replaces all occurrences of 'old' with 'new' in the entire file. If you want to confirm each replacement, add a 'c' at the end like :%s/old/new/gc. For a more targeted approach, you can visually select a block of text and then use :'<,'>s/old/new/g to replace only within the selection. I also frequently use :s/old/new/g to replace within the current line. These commands save me a ton of time when editing large files or making repetitive changes.

What Is The Command To Replace Text In Vim Editor?

3 Answers2025-07-03 14:30:33
I've been using Vim for years, and one of the most powerful commands I rely on is the substitute command. To replace text, you use the syntax :s/old_text/new_text/. For example, if I want to replace 'apple' with 'orange' in the current line, I type :s/apple/orange/. If I need to replace all occurrences in the entire file, I add the 'g' flag like this :%s/apple/orange/g. The '%' means apply to the whole file. For case-insensitive replacement, I use :%s/apple/orange/gi. Vim's substitution is incredibly flexible, allowing me to add confirmations with 'c' or target specific lines by specifying a range like :10,20s/apple/orange/g.

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I've been using Vim for years, and replacing case-sensitive text is one of those things that feels like a superpower once you master it. The basic command is :%s/oldText/newText/g, but if you want case sensitivity, you need to add \C to enforce it. For example, :%s/\ColdText/newText/g will only match 'oldText' exactly as written, ignoring 'OldText' or 'OLDTEXT'. I often pair this with the 'c' flag for confirmation, like :%s/\ColdText/newText/gc, so I can review each change. Vim's regex can be tricky, but this combo saves me hours when refactoring code or fixing typos in docs.

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2 Answers2025-07-03 22:40:10
I remember when I first had to replace text across multiple files in Vim—it felt like unlocking a superpower. The global search-and-replace in Vim is done with the `:s` command, but when you need to hit every occurrence in a file, you pair it with `:g`. Here’s how it works: typing `:%s/old_text/new_text/g` replaces all instances of 'old_text' with 'new_text' in the entire file. The `%` means the whole file, and the `g` at the end ensures every occurrence on each line gets changed, not just the first one. But Vim’s real magic comes with precision. Want to confirm each replacement? Add `c` at the end (`:%s/old_text/new_text/gc`), and Vim will ask for confirmation before swapping anything. This is clutch when you’re dealing with sensitive code or prose. For targeted changes, you can scope the replacement to specific lines—like `:10,20s/old_text/new_text/g` to only affect lines 10 through 20. I’ve lost count of how many times this saved me from manual grunt work. Pro tip: Combine `:g` with patterns. Say you only want to replace 'old_text' in lines containing 'marker': `:g/marker/s/old_text/new_text/g`. This level of control is why I stick with Vim even when modern editors tempt me with flashy GUIs.

Can I Replace Text In Vim Across Multiple Files?

3 Answers2025-07-03 09:33:11
I use Vim daily for coding, and one of its powerful features is the ability to replace text across multiple files. You can do this by combining the ':argdo' command with substitution. For example, if you want to replace 'foo' with 'bar' in all '.txt' files, open Vim and type ':args *.txt' to load all text files. Then, run ':argdo %s/foo/bar/g | update'. This replaces every 'foo' with 'bar' in each file and saves the changes automatically. It's a lifesaver when working on large projects with repetitive edits. Just make sure to test on a backup first to avoid unintended changes.

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3 Answers2025-07-03 15:42:15
I've been using Vim for years, and one of the most common tasks I do is replace text. To do it without confirmation prompts, you can use the substitute command with the 'g' flag. For example, if you want to replace all instances of 'foo' with 'bar' in the entire file, you can type :%s/foo/bar/g and hit enter. This will change every 'foo' to 'bar' without asking for confirmation. If you only want to replace in a specific range of lines, say from line 5 to 10, you can use :5,10s/foo/bar/g. The '%' means the entire file, and 'g' stands for global, so it replaces all occurrences in each line, not just the first one. This is super handy when you're editing large files and need to make bulk changes quickly.

How To Undo A Text Replacement In Vim?

3 Answers2025-07-03 01:20:37
I've been using Vim for years, and text replacement mishaps happen to everyone. If you accidentally replaced text using the ':s/old/new/g' command and want to undo it, the simplest way is to press 'u' right after the replacement. This undoes the last change. If you've made other edits after the replacement, you might need to use ':undo' followed by the number of changes you want to revert. For example, ':undo 2' will undo the last two changes. Another handy trick is using ':earlier 1f' to go back to the state of the file one minute ago. Vim's undo history is pretty powerful, so exploring ':help undo' can give you more control over your mistakes.
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