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Asked: 2024-09-26T00:11:11+05:30 In:

How can I replace a specific word throughout an entire document using the vi editor on Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into using the vi editor on Ubuntu for some projects, and I came across a bit of a hiccup that I could really use some help with. Picture this: I’ve got a pretty lengthy document that I’ve been working on, and I realized I keep using a particular word throughout it that I want to change. It’s not just a few instances—I mean, like everywhere in the text.

At first, I thought, “No big deal! I’ll just find and replace it.” But then I remembered that this is vi we’re talking about, and I can’t quite remember the magic spell for doing that efficiently without going through each line individually. I really don’t want to spend hours just manually editing this document.

So here’s where I need some tips. What’s the quickest way to replace a specific word across the entire document in vi? I’ve tried a couple of commands, but I always end up getting lost or messing things up. For instance, I think I read something about the command mode and maybe using a certain syntax, but I could really use a step-by-step guide here.

Also, is there a way to make this case sensitive, or will it automatically replace every variation out there? It’d be great if I could keep certain instances of the word unchanged, like in names or technical terms, you know what I mean?

Would love to hear from anyone who knows the ins and outs of the vi editor. Any tips or tricks would really help me nail this down and save me a ton of hassle. Thanks in advance! Looking forward to your replies!

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    2 Answers



    1. Replacing Words in vi Editor

      Quick Guide to Find and Replace in vi

      So, you’re in vi and wanna replace that pesky word throughout your whole document? No sweat! Here’s a simple step-by-step you can follow:

      1. Open your document in vi, of course! Just type vi yourfile.txt in the terminal.
      2. Once you’re in, hit Esc to make sure you’re in normal mode.
      3. Now, to start the search and replace, type this command:
        4. :%s/oldword/newword/g
      4. Replace oldword with the word you want to change and newword with the new word you want to use. The g at the end means “global,” so it’ll replace all instances in the document.

      If you want to be super careful and ensure it’s case sensitive, you can do this instead:

      :set ignorecase
:%s/oldword/newword/gc

      The c at the end will prompt you for confirmation before each replacement. This way, you can skip over the ones you want to keep unchanged.

      Just remember:

      • Press y to replace or n to skip when it asks for confirmation.
      • If you’re fine with case sensitivity (like keeping “OldWord” and “oldword” different), don’t use ignorecase.

      Give that a shot! You’ll be a vi pro in no time. Happy editing!



    2. To efficiently replace a specific word throughout an entire document in the vi editor, you can use the substitute command. First, ensure you’re in Normal mode by pressing the Esc key. Then, enter the following command to replace the word globally:

      :%s/old_word/new_word/g

      In this command, replace old_word with the word you want to change and new_word with the new word you wish to use. The g at the end stands for “global,” meaning all instances of that word in the document will be replaced. If you need to make the replacement case-sensitive, you can add the c flag to the command, like this:

      :%s/old_word/new_word/gc

      This will prompt you for confirmation before each replacement, allowing you to skip or confirm changes as needed. By using this method, you can effectively manage the replacements while preserving specific instances of the word you want to keep unchanged.


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