Visual Studio Code: How to actually search and replace a word in all files?

Question

Env

Ubuntu 16.04
Visual Studio Code v 1.2.1

Problem

I can search occurrences in all files by Ctrl + Shift + F

However, I can't find a way to search and replace occurrences in all files.

Is this a missing(or hidden) feature in Visual Studio Code.

Possible duplicate of [Visual Studio Code Replace multiple files at once](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/32897659/visual-studio-code-replace-multiple-files-at-once) — Ivan Zlatev, Jun 29 '16 at 12:15
@IvanZlatev mine is about replacing single word across multiple files. The other one is about replacing multiple lines in multiple files. — aspdeepak, Jun 30 '16 at 07:44

score 52 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 23 '17 at 10:01

52

Visual Studio Code v 1.3.0++ has this feature:

Replace functionality can be accessed:

In the Search View by expanding the Search textbox
Using Ctrl + Shift + H, from the Edit | Replace in Files menu
Using Replace in Files command in the Command Palette

edited Sep 23 '17 at 10:01

MD Ashik

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answered Jul 11 '16 at 11:43

aspdeepak

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how do you specify where to apply the changes (eg: current opened file)? – zok Oct 12 '17 at 15:54
1

And don't forget to escape any slashes that precede intended capture groups. So if for example you are refactoring `App\...` to `App\Models\...` across files, then your replacement using search string `\bApp\\([A-Za-z]*\b)` will be `App\Models\\$1` – Damilola Olowookere Dec 11 '19 at 23:41

score 11 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 07 '17 at 22:48

11

VS Code also supports capturing groups when using regex, captured groups (using parenthesis) can be referenced with $1 for the first match, $2 the second etc. $0 returns the complete match.

Reversing "abc"

Appending "def"

answered Nov 07 '17 at 22:48

robstarbuck

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This is what I have been looking for as I do not wanted to replace, but more like append/extend, keeping the original. By referencing the capture groups, I could easily append across multiple files, where some of the words were only matched by pattern and not exact string. – Bence Kaulics Nov 16 '20 at 12:46

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 29 '16 at 12:18

3

It's currently not possible to replace in all files. The good news is it's part of the June Iteration Plan. The feature has already passed a couple of tests. So it will be probably released in July 2016.

answered Jun 29 '16 at 12:18

Wosi

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Latest version has the requested feature. https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/1690 – aspdeepak Jul 11 '16 at 11:38

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 22 '22 at 13:54

As an enhancement, VSCode 1.70 supports search and replace in all selected files, solving the 2018 issue 47166 "Make search tree context menu multiselect-aware".

See PR 154847 (available today in VSCode insiders)

Make search tree context menu multiselect-aware

When multiple entries are selected, if someone removes/replaces on one selected item, it happens to everything.

Note: if a whole file (uses Replace All) and entry (just uses Replace) are both selected at once and either Replace or Replace All is used, whatever replace action is valid for all selected item will run.

For example, if a file and entry are all selected and the Replace button is selected on the entry, then Replace All will be run on the file and Replace will be run on the entry.

Example:

best answer on this thread, thank you! – Jack Riley Nov 30 '22 at 01:55 — Jack Riley, Nov 30 '22 at 01:55

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 14 '22 at 11:23

0

All File:

Search =  Ctrl + Shift + F 
Replace =  Ctrl + Shift + H

One File:

Search =  Ctrl + F 
Replace =  Ctrl + H

answered Sep 14 '22 at 11:23

Shaiful Islam

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Visual Studio Code: How to actually search and replace a word in all files?

5 Answers5

Reversing "abc"

Appending "def"

Make search tree context menu multiselect-aware