Linux in a Nutshell, Third Edition

Name

substitute

Synopsis

[address] s [/ pattern / replacement /] [options] [count]

Description

Replace each instance of pattern on the specified lines with replacement. If pattern and replacement are omitted, repeat last substitution. count specifies the number of lines on which to substitute, starting with address. When preceded by the global (g) or v command, this command can be specified with a blank pattern, in which case the pattern from the g or v command is then used. For more examples, see Section 9.4.1 in Chapter 9.

Options

c

Prompt for confirmation before each change.

g

Substitute all instances of pattern on each line.

p

Print the last line on which a substitution was made.

Examples

:1,10s/yes/no/g               
                     Substitute on first 10 lines
:%s/[Hh]ello/Hi/gc            
                     Confirm global substitutions
:s/Fortran/\U&/ 3             
                     Uppercase first instance of "Fortran"
                                                          on next three lines
:g/^[0-9][0-9]*/s//Line &:/   
                     For every line beginning
                                                          with one or more digits,
                                                          add the "Line" and a colon