Unix Tip: PERL FIND AND REPLACE

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

UNIX GURU UNIVERSE
UNIX HOT TIP

Unix Tip 3209 - November 19, 2009

http://www.ugu.com/sui/ugu/show?tip.today

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

PERL FIND AND REPLACE

In UNIX environment, the following combination of perl and find will serch for a particular file and replace the occurence of a particular string with another string in that file. This will also work for multiple files and directories. The find command finds the file and the perl script replaces old string with the new one.

At the command prompt give this command:

# perl -pi -e 's/<old string>/<new string>' `find . -name "<file name>"`

NB: Perl should be in the path and the general regular expression rules apply while using special characters for eg / or .

This tip generously supported by: pandpr@dh.cit.alcatel.fr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Subscribe: http://www.ugu.com/sui/ugu/show?tip.subscribe
To Unsubscribe: http://www.ugu.com/sui/ugu/show?tip.unsubscribe
To Submit A Tip: http://www.ugu.com/sui/ugu/show?tip.today

==========================================================================
DISCLAIMER: All UNIX HOT TIPS ARE OWNED BY THE UNIX GURU UNIVERSE AND ARE
NOT TO BE SOLD, PRINTED OR USED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE UNIX
GURU UNIVERSE. ALL TIPS ARE "USE AT YOUR OWN RISK". UGU ADVISES THAT
ALL TIPS BE TESTED IN A NON-PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT FIRST.

Unix Guru Universe - www.ugu.com - tips@ugu.com - Copyright 1994-2001
==========================================================================