Replace text within a text file with Windows command line

Question

Without being able to install all sorts of fancy find and replace tools, I need to find and replace strings within text files with the command line from Windows Server 2008.

How would I do that?

Example:

text.md

    Hello world!

Change to:

text.md

    Hello everyone!

I'm looking for something like:

for /f %%A in (text.md) do (

    set "line=%%A"

    if defined line (

        // and here the replacement

    ) ELSE echo.
)

Plain batch replacement has restrictions and it is useful to know exactly what text we are dealing with - or we could be wasting our time because it won't work. — foxidrive
– foxidrive, Commented Sep 26, 2013 at 11:19

foxidrive · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-26 00:09:28Z

2

Using repl.bat which you would put on the path (say in C:\Windows or a utility folder that you add to the path)

type "text.md"|repl "world" "everyone" >"text.tmp"
move /y "text.tmp" "text.md"

repl.bat is a SED-like helper batch file from - http://www.dostips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3855

findrepl.bat is GREP-like helper batch file from - http://www.dostips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4697

If you want plain batch techniques then it will depend on the exact task and text makeup.

edited Sep 26, 2013 at 0:09

answered Sep 25, 2013 at 13:46

foxidrive

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7 Comments

Kriem Over a year ago

Thanks, but I'm afraid this goes beyond my understanding. :)

Kriem Over a year ago

I see. I would need to put repl.bat in the path which I'm afraid I can't do within the environment I'm working with. Thanks for the clear explanation though!

foxidrive Over a year ago

It's most widely useful on the path, but you can also put it in the current directory with your text file and it will work too.

Kriem Over a year ago

I still am bound tot the fact I cannot do that. :(

foxidrive Over a year ago

You cannot do what? To use repl you copy and paste into notepad, save it as a bat file in the same folder as your text file, and it will work. What further restrictions do you have?

|

Kriem · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-26 15:04:24Z

1

This has worked for me:

(for /f "tokens=1,* delims=]" %%A in ('"type text.md|find /n /v """') do (

    set "line=%%B"
    if defined line (
        call set "line=echo.%%line:world=everyone%%"
        for /f "delims=" %%X in ('"echo."%%line%%""') do %%~X
    ) ELSE echo.

)) >text2.md

move /Y text2.md text.md

answered Sep 26, 2013 at 15:04

Kriem

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