Can I select and edit specific positions in lines while in visual block mode?

Question

say for example, I have this text:

<div class="test1"></div>
<span class="highlight"></span>
<nav class="tester"></nav>
<aside class="wrapper"></aside>

I want use visual block mode to add a new class to each line - in one action - so the result is:

<div class="test1 new_class"></div>
<span class="highlight new_class"></span>
<nav class="tester new_class"></nav>
<aside class="wrapper new_class"></aside>

I have tried enter visual block mode Ctrl + v, select all 4 lines, but I cant move the cursor position to the 2nd " in each line, I have tried 2f" , which does find the 2nd " - for one particular line, but then the cursor position of that line dictates the position for all the other lines. I cant get the cursor position to find the 2nd " for each individual line.

I know another solution to this problem is to simply visually select the lines with regular visual and then use command

:'<,'>s/">/ new_class">/g 

this works, but is it possible to use -- VISUAL BLOCK -- to do this?

Answer 1

No, you can only do rectangular selections with visual-block mode.

Beside substitution, there are basically two ways to do what you want without third party plugins: direct repetition of normal mode commands and macros.

1. Repeating normal mode commands

   Do your edit in one place and repeat it in the other places:

   /"<<CR>              search for ">
   s new_class"<Esc>    replace it with your text followed by a double quote
   n.                   jump to next occurrence and repeat the change
   n.                   and again
   n.                   and again
   

   See :help single-repeat.

2. Replaying a recorded macro

   Record your macro and play it back as many times as necessary:

   qq                  start recording in register q
   02f"                go to first column then jump to second "
   i new_class<Esc>    insert your text
   j                   go down one line
   q                   stop recording
   @q                  replay your recording
   @q                  and again
   @q                  and again
   

   Notes:

   • you can use @@ to repeat the last played macro: @q@@@@,
   • you can use a count before @q: 3@q.

   See :help recording.

3. Using a "manual" macro

   Use :{range}normal to execute a macro on lines covered by {range}:

   :'<,'>normal 2f"i new_class<CR>
   

   See :help :normal.