Replace in Files
Replace in Files allows you to search the code of a specified set of files for a string or expression, and change some or all of the matches found. The matches found and actions taken are listed in the Find Results window selected in Result options.
Note
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The dialog boxes and menu commands you see might differ from those described in Help depending on your active settings or edition. To change your settings, choose Import and Export Settings on the Tools menu. For more information, see Visual Studio Settings. |
You can use any of the following methods to display Replace in Files in the Find and Replace window.
To display Replace in Files
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On the Edit menu, expand Find and Replace.
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Choose Replace in Files.
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If the Find and Replace window is already open, on the toolbar, choose Replace in Files.
To search for a new text string or expression, specify it in the box. To search for any of the 20 strings that you searched for most recently, open the list, and choose the string for which you want to search. Choose the adjacent Expression Builder button if you want to use one or more regular expressions in your search string. For more information, see Using Regular Expressions in Visual Studio.
To replace instances of the string in the Find what box with another string, enter the replacement string in the Replace With box. To delete instances of the string in the Find what box, leave this field blank. Open the list to display the 20 strings for which you searched most recently. Choose the adjacent Expression Builder button if you want to use one or more regular expressions in your replacement string. For more information, see Using Regular Expressions in Visual Studio.
The option chosen from the Look in drop-down list determines whether Replace in Files searches only in currently active files or searches all files stored within certain folders. Select a search scope from the list, type a folder path, or click the Browse (...) button to display the Choose Search Folders dialog box and choose a set of folders to search. You can also type a path directly into the Look in box.
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Note
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If the Look in option selected causes you to search a file that you have checked out from source code control, only the version of that file which has been downloaded to your local machine is searched. |
You can expand or collapse the Result options section. The following options can be selected or cleared:
- Find Results 1 window
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When selected, the results of the current search will replace the content of the Find Results 1 window. This window opens automatically to display your search results. To open this window manually, select Other Windows from the View menu and choose Find Results 1.
- Find Results 2 window
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When selected, the results of the current search will replace the content of the Find Results 2 window. This window opens automatically to display your search results. To open this window manually, select Other Windows from the View menu and choose Find Results 2.
- Display file names only
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When this check box is selected, the Find Results windows list the full names and paths for all files that contain the search string. However, the results don't include the line of code where the string appears. This check box is available for Find in Files only.
- Keep modified files open after Replace All
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When selected, leaves open all files in which replacements have been made, so you can undo or save the changes. Memory constraints might limit the number of files that can remain open after a replace operation.
Caution
You can use Undo only on files that remain open for editing. If this option is not selected, files that were not already open for editing will remain closed, and no Undo option will be available in those files.
