Emacs: Find Replace Text in Directory

Select Target Directory

Alt+x dired, then type a directory path, to list a directory. 〔see Emacs: File Manager, dired〕

Press ^ to go up a directory.

Now, your cursor should be on the directory you want to do the find replace.

Select Only Some Files

If you want to find replace only files ending in “.html”, or “.js”, or other selections of files, you need to mark files.

• When there are marked files, emacs will do find replace only on those marked ones.
• When there are no marked files, emacs will do find replace on the file/directory the cursor is on.

Mark Files/Directories

m

Mark the file/directory under cursor.

u

Unmark the file/directory under cursor.

U

Unmark all marked.

Mark Files by Regex

Alt+x dired-mark-files-regexp 【% m】

then type a regex. 〔see Emacs: Regular Expression Syntax〕

For example, if you want to mark all files ending in “.html”, then type % m then \.html$.

Interactive Find Replace

Alt+x dired-do-query-replace-regexp 【Q】.

Answer the prompt, by typing find regex string and replace string. 〔see Emacs: Regular Expression Syntax〕

For example, type “queen” Enter then “princess”, to replace words “queen” by “princess”.

The Result Window

Emacs will show result, in a split window.

The top pane, is a file where a match is found. Cursor is place on the word.

The bottom pane shows a list of files where match is found. This buffer is name “*xref*”.

In the top pane showing the actual file, the following keys are available:

y

Replace current highlighted occurrence. (emacs will then jump to next one.)

n

Skip.

Ctrl+g

Abort the whole find replace.

!

Replace all occurrences in current file without more asking.

N

Skip all possible replacement for rest of the current file.

Y

Do the replacement on all files without further asking.

If you want to cancel the whole operation without saving any changes you've made, type Ctrl+g, then exit emacs.

Result Overview: xref buffer

The bottom pane buffer named “*xref*”, lists all the occurrences and files.

Move cursor to the “*xref*” pane, then the following keys are available:

Enter

Display the reference on the current line.

n or .

Move to the next reference and display it in the other window (xref-next-line).

p or ,

Move to the previous reference and display it in the other window (xref-prev-line).

Ctrl+o

Display the reference on the current line in the other window (xref-show-location-at-point).

r

Prompt for find replace with regex. (xref-query-replace-in-results)

q

Quit the window showing the *xref* buffer. (quit-window)

In the xref buffer, Alt+x describe-mode to see the doc.

Xref Commands (Emacs Manual)

Save Changed Files

Alt+x ibuffer to list all opened files.

1. Type * u to mark all unsaved files
2. type S to save all marked files
3. type D to close them all.

Alternative to the above options, Alt+x save-some-buffers 【Ctrl+x s】. Then emacs will display each unsaved file and ask if you want it saved.