Change a string in all files in a directory?

Randux · 05-17-2006, 09:55 AM

Hey guys,

I'm trying to clean up a ton of code I wrote on another platform. I want to do a global change from stringa to stringb in every file in a directory, but I don't know what to use or how to use it. I could pull them up in emacs and do it but that will take forever. Virtual icy-cold 6-pack of your favorite ale to the guy who gives me the secret formula

Thanks,
Rand

ta0kira · 05-17-2006, 10:09 AM

Try this:

Code:

> sed -i~ "s/stringa/stringb/g" *

This will make a backup of all of the files in case something goes wrong. Do you have variants of "stringa" in the code, such as "MYstringa" or "stringalpha"? If so, the command above will change those also. If you don't want that to happen, I'll show you how to do that.
ta0kira

Randux · 05-17-2006, 11:47 AM

Awesome! It ran so fast I couldn't believe it worked! I took off the ~ because I didn't want to create backups. Thanks a lot!

What'll it be? Some ice cold....?

Rand