In visual mode, how do I bind a key so that the selected text generates “%s/<SELECTEDTEXT>/<CURSORHERE>/g”?

Question

In visual mode, how do I bind a key so that the selected text generates

%s/<SELECTEDTEXT>/<CURSORHERE>/g

? Preferably ; considering I never use it otherwise.

Thanks.

Answer 1

xnoremap ; y<Esc>:%s/<C-R>"//g<Left><Left>

• xnoremap visual mode mapping, non-recursive
  • vnoremap includes select mode as well, see What is the select mode and when is it relevant to use it?
• ; key to be mapped
• y yank the selected text
• <Esc> visual mode to normal mode
• :%s/ substitute command, all lines as range
• <C-R>" paste contents of selected text
• //g rest of substitute command
• <Left><Left> move cursor to the left twice