searching multiple patterns through Vi editor

barunparichha · 05-11-2009, 05:13 AM

Hi,
I want to find multiple patterns through vi editor.
For example, suppose we need to find pattern1 or pattern2 in file file-name.

The equivalent command in egrep
$ egrep 'pattern1|patteren2' file-name

Is there a way to find multiple patterns through vi editor ?

I could not find multiple patterns using /pattern1|pattern2.

With Thanks in advance,
Barun Parichha

druuna · 05-11-2009, 05:19 AM

Hi,

You need to escape the pipe when using vi:

/pattern1\|patteren2 will do the trick.

Hope this helps.

barunparichha · 05-11-2009, 05:46 AM

Hi drunna,
The above trick did not work.

druuna · 05-11-2009, 05:52 AM

Hi,

I was initially confused by "file-name" but assumed you are 'just' looking for one or both patterns in a specific file using vi(m).

What is it you are actually trying to do? Your example talks about vi (which shows a body of text, which can be searched) and (e)grep, which looks thru multiple files for a certain string.

barunparichha · 05-11-2009, 06:21 AM

Assume that in both the cases I am searching pattern1 or pattern2 from some file file-name. The file-name is just the name of the file to be searched.

druuna · 05-11-2009, 07:21 AM

Ok,

Then my solution does work: Open fileX with vi(m), search for pattern1 or pattern2: /pattern1\|pattern2.

The cursor will go to the first pattern it finds (either pattern1 or pattern2) and if highlight search (set hlsearch) is active all the found patterns will be highlighted in the visible text.

If that is not what you want, please elaborate.

barunparichha · 05-12-2009, 02:09 AM

You are right, I need to search pattern1 or pattern2. But your solution did not work in Vi. I am using Vi in Solaris.

chrism01 · 05-12-2009, 02:57 AM

Show us the exact cmd you tried in vi (and example file); it worked for me

:/patt1\|patt2

druuna · 05-12-2009, 03:13 AM

@chrism01: The OP is using vi, not vim. I do believe that my solution only works when using vim.

barunparichha · 05-12-2009, 04:54 AM

Hi chrism01 and drunna,
I have clearly mentioned in my previous post that
:/pattern1\|pattern2 did not work under Vi.

Did any of you get success through Vi ?

Barun

chrism01 · 05-12-2009, 08:39 PM

I'd be a little surprised if that didn't work in vi as well, but I don't have access to vi. Just checked the CENTOS repo and there's no vi(!) so I can't download/try it.
I am surprised about that...