How to "search and replace" many files?

Question

I use the grep command to search for a string in many files. Is there something similar to "search and replace"?

Jjed · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-02 12:51:44Z

19

You are looking for the sed command. For example, to replace the "dog" with "cat" in all text files in the current directory:

sed -i 's/dog/cat/' *.txt

answered Feb 2, 2012 at 12:51

Jjed

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Kerkdyk · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-02 12:52:16Z

1

sed comes to mind. Example:

sed s/cat/dog/ <input >output

This searches for cat in a line and puts dog on it's place in the file input and writes to file output.

answered Feb 2, 2012 at 12:52

Kerkdyk

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jcollado · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-02 14:12:44Z

1

sed is the right tool; but, as an alternative, you can even use ex commands in vim:

vim -c 'args <files> | argdo %s/cat/dog/g | x'

where <files> is the list of files or patterns in which you want to make the substitution.

answered Feb 2, 2012 at 14:12

jcollado

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Zombo · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-16 21:00:12Z

0

You can use Vim in Ex mode:

for b in *.txt
do
  ex -sc '%s/OLD/NEW/g|x' "$b"
done

answered Apr 16, 2016 at 20:49

Zombo

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4 Answers 4