@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002,
-@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Search, Fixit, Display, Top
@chapter Searching and Replacement
Besides the usual @code{replace-string} command that finds all
occurrences of one string and replaces them with another, Emacs has a
more flexible replacement command called @code{query-replace}, which
-asks interactively which occurrences to replace.
+asks interactively which occurrences to replace. There are also
+commands to find and operate on all matches for a pattern.
+
+ You can also search multiple files under control of a tags
+table (@pxref{Tags Search}) or through the Dired @kbd{A} command
+(@pxref{Operating on Files}), or ask the @code{grep} program to do it
+(@pxref{Grep Searching}).
+
@menu
* Incremental Search:: Search happens as you type the string.
@node Incremental Search
@section Incremental Search
+@cindex incremental search
+@cindex isearch
An incremental search begins searching as soon as you type the first
character of the search string. As you type in the search string, Emacs
@node Basic Isearch
@subsection Basics of Incremental Search
-@cindex incremental search
@kindex C-s
@findex isearch-forward
@node Non-ASCII Isearch
@subsection Isearch for Non-@acronym{ASCII} Characters
-
@cindex searching for non-@acronym{ASCII} characters
@cindex input method, during incremental search
To enter non-@acronym{ASCII} characters in an incremental search,
-you must use an input method (@pxref{Input Methods}). If an input
-method is enabled in the current buffer when you start the search, you
-can use it while you type the search string also. Emacs indicates
-that by including the input method mnemonic in its prompt, like this:
+you can use @kbd{C-q} (see the previous section), but it is easier to
+use an input method (@pxref{Input Methods}). If an input method is
+enabled in the current buffer when you start the search, you can use
+it in the search string also. Emacs indicates that by including the
+input method mnemonic in its prompt, like this:
@example
I-search [@var{im}]:
@noindent
@findex isearch-toggle-input-method
@findex isearch-toggle-specified-input-method
-where @var{im} is the mnemonic of the active input method. You can
-toggle (enable or disable) the input method while you type the search
-string with @kbd{C-\} (@code{isearch-toggle-input-method}). You can
-turn on a certain (non-default) input method with @kbd{C-^}
+where @var{im} is the mnemonic of the active input method.
+
+ You can toggle (enable or disable) the input method while you type
+the search string with @kbd{C-\} (@code{isearch-toggle-input-method}).
+You can turn on a certain (non-default) input method with @kbd{C-^}
(@code{isearch-toggle-specified-input-method}), which prompts for the
name of the input method. The input method you enable during
incremental search remains enabled in the current buffer afterwards.
Search backward for @var{words}, ignoring details of punctuation.
@end table
- Word search is a special case of nonincremental search and is invoked
+ Word search as a special case of nonincremental search is invoked
with @kbd{C-s @key{RET} C-w}. This is followed by the search string,
which must always be terminated with @key{RET}. Being nonincremental,
this search does not start until the argument is terminated. It works
Use @kbd{C-r @key{RET} C-w} to do backward word search.
+ You can also invoke word search with @kbd{C-s M-e C-w} or @kbd{C-r
+M-e C-w} followed by the search string and terminated with @key{RET},
+@kbd{C-s} or @kbd{C-r}. This puts word search into incremental mode
+where you can use all keys available for incremental search. However,
+when you type more words in incremental word search, it will fail
+until you type complete words.
+
@findex word-search-forward
@findex word-search-backward
Forward and backward word searches are implemented by the commands
you have searched for @samp{foo} and you add @samp{\|bar}, the cursor
backs up in case the first @samp{bar} precedes the first @samp{foo}.
+ Forward and backward regexp search are not symmetrical, because
+regexp matching in Emacs always operates forward, starting with the
+beginning of the regexp. Thus, forward regexp search scans forward,
+trying a forward match at each possible starting position. Backward
+regexp search scans backward, trying a forward match at each possible
+starting position. These search methods are not mirror images.
+
@findex re-search-forward
@findex re-search-backward
Nonincremental search for a regexp is done by the functions
A numeric argument restricts replacement to matches that are surrounded
by word boundaries. The argument's value doesn't matter.
+ @xref{Replacement and Case}, for details about case-sensitivity in
+replace commands.
+
What if you want to exchange @samp{x} and @samp{y}: replace every @samp{x} with a @samp{y} and vice versa? You can do it this way:
@example
@samp{\&} in @var{newstring} stands for the entire match being
replaced. @samp{\@var{d}} in @var{newstring}, where @var{d} is a
digit, stands for whatever matched the @var{d}th parenthesized
-grouping in @var{regexp}. (This is called a ``back reference''.)
+grouping in @var{regexp}. (This is called a ``back reference.'')
@samp{\#} refers to the count of replacements already made in this
command, as a decimal number. In the first replacement, @samp{\#}
stands for @samp{0}; in the second, for @samp{1}; and so on. For
occurrence and asks you whether to replace it. Aside from querying,
@code{query-replace} works just like @code{replace-string}. It
preserves case, like @code{replace-string}, provided
-@code{case-replace} is non-@code{nil}, as it normally is. A numeric
-argument means consider only occurrences that are bounded by
-word-delimiter characters.
+@code{case-replace} is non-@code{nil}, as it normally is
+(@pxref{Replacement and Case}). A numeric argument means consider
+only occurrences that are bounded by word-delimiter characters.
@kindex C-M-%
@findex query-replace-regexp
used the minibuffer to read its arguments. @xref{Repetition, C-x ESC
ESC}.
- See also @ref{Transforming File Names}, for Dired commands to rename,
-copy, or link files by replacing regexp matches in file names.
+ @xref{Operating on Files}, for the Dired @kbd{Q} command which
+performs query replace on selected files. See also @ref{Transforming
+File Names}, for Dired commands to rename, copy, or link files by
+replacing regexp matches in file names.
@node Other Repeating Search
@section Other Search-and-Loop Commands
If a match is split across lines, this command keeps all those lines.
@end table
- You can also search multiple files under control of a tags table
-(@pxref{Tags Search}) or through the Dired @kbd{A} command
-(@pxref{Operating on Files}), or ask the @code{grep} program to do it
-(@pxref{Grep Searching}).
-
@ignore
arch-tag: fd9d8e77-66af-491c-b212-d80999613e3e
@end ignore
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff