How to block replace code in visual mode?

Question

I have a list of items where I want to replace the first two characters:

a) item 1
b) item 2
c) item 3

What is the fastest way to make this:

* item 1
* item 2
* item 3

I have an approach with visual mode (Ctr-v, jjj, but need to do two replace commands. Iirc, this replacement can be done with 1 command)

Like .,.+2s/^../*/ (or equivalently in a visual selection)? Why two replace commands? 2c would replace two characters. — muru, Feb 20, 2015 at 8:40
sometimes only the first line in the visual selection is changed, repeating then with . for the other lines messes things up. — poseid, Feb 20, 2015 at 9:10
@poseid are you in the habit of pressing Ctrl-C instead of Esc? This prevents, among other things, changes being applied to each line of a Visual-block selection. — tommcdo, Feb 20, 2015 at 10:48

B Layer · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-27 05:48:33Z

42

Visual-block selection:

<C-v>
jjl
c*
<Esc>

:normal:

:,+2norm! cE*

Substitution:

:,+2s/^.\{2}/*

Dot formula:

cE*<Esc>
j.
j.

B Layer

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answered Feb 20, 2015 at 9:11

romainl

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1

Crazy approach: using textobj-word-column.vim you can do ciC*<esc> and be done. Note: this plugin is a "do what I mean" plugin so it fails in unexpected places and ways, but the plugin is still useful in some easy cases like this.
– Peter Rincker
Feb 20, 2015 at 23:55
interesting the normal and dot formula!
– poseid
Feb 21, 2015 at 9:40
3

Note that for the Visual-block solution, you will only see text being typed on the first line. Once you hit <Esc>, it will fill in the remaining lines.
– tommcdo
Feb 27, 2018 at 12:04
Any suggestions for a way to remember that c will replace? Like how ctrl+D(own)
– Jordan Mackie
Mar 28, 2019 at 16:06
3

@JordanMackie c is for "change".
– romainl
Mar 30, 2019 at 16:24

| Show 1 more comment

kenorb · Accepted Answer · 2018-04-16 20:31:26Z

Here is more efficient way of doing this:

Having cursor on the first item and 1st letter (0), enter 'blockwise' visual mode Ctrl+v and select the 1st column of your current paragraph by } (if your list is finished by new line), otherwise use different methods like arrow keys (to move around the selection), or pattern search /c) where c is your last element).
Move to the last symbol of your list by k and l (or using arrow keys), so two columns are selected which you want to change.
Change the selected text by pressing c and type your bullet symbol (*) and finish by hitting Esc.

Works more efficiently especially in the longer lists.

2 Answers 2