Can You Replace Multiple Lines Of Text In Vim?

2025-07-03 15:31:10 269

3 Answers

Evelyn
Evelyn
2025-07-05 19:44:18
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.
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.
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