QSUBST(1) BSD General Commands Manual QSUBST(1)NAMEqsubst — query-replace strings in files
SYNOPSISqsubst str1 str2 [flags] file [file [...]]
DESCRIPTIONqsubst reads its options (see below) to get a list of files. For each
file on this list, it then replaces str1 with str2 wherever possible in
that file, depending on user input (see below). The result is written
back onto the original file.
For each potential substitution found, the user is prompted with a few
lines before and after the line containing the string to be substituted.
The string itself is displayed using the terminal's standout mode, if
any. Then one character is read from the terminal. This is then inter‐
preted as follows (this is designed to be like Emacs' query-replace-
string):
space Replace this occurrence and go on to the next one.
. Replace this occurrence and don't change any more in this
file (i.e., go on to the next file).
, Tentatively replace this occurrence. The lines as they
would look if the substitution were made are printed out.
Then another character is read and it is used to decide the
result as if the tentative replacement had not happened.
n Don't change this one; just go on to the next one.
^G Don't change this one or any others in this file, but
instead simply go on to the next file.
! Change the rest in this file without asking, then go on to
the next file (at which point qsubst will start asking
again).
? Print out the current filename and ask again.
The first two arguments to qsubst are always the string to replace and
the string to replace it with. The options are as follows:
-w The search string is considered as a C symbol; it must
be bounded by non-symbol characters. This option tog‐
gles. (‘w’ for ‘word’.)
-!
-go
-noask Enter ! mode automatically at the beginning of each
file.
-nogo
-ask Negate -go, that is, ask as usual.
-cN (Where N is a number.) Give N lines of context above
and below the line with the match when prompting the
user.
-CAN (Where N is a number.) Give N lines of context above
the line with the match when prompting the user.
-CBN (Where N is a number.) Give N lines of context below
the line with the match when prompting the user.
-f filename The filename argument is one of the files qsubst
should perform substitutions in.
-F filename qsubst reads filename to get the names of files to
perform substitutions in. The names should appear one
to a line.
The default amount of context is -c2, that is, two lines above and two
lines below the line with the match.
Arguments not beginning with a - sign in the options field are implicitly
preceded by -f. Thus, -f is really needed only when the file name begins
with a - sign.
qsubst reads its options in order and processes files as it gets them.
This means, for example, that a -go will affect only files named after
the -go.
The most context you can get is ten lines each, above and below.
str1 is limited to 512 characters; there is no limit on the size of str2.
Neither one may contain a NUL.
NULs in the file may cause qsubst to make various mistakes.
If any other program modifies the file while qsubst is running, all bets
are off.
AUTHORS
der Mouse ⟨mouse@rodents.montreal.qc.ca⟩
BSD September 4, 1999 BSD
