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TitleSearch for files of specific types in a directory that contain a string and replace the string
Keywordsfind, search, replace
CategoriesUtilities, Files and Directories
 
Use Dir$ to list the files matching the selected patterns. Read the files into a string, use Replace to make the substitution, and then rewrite the file.
 
Private Sub cmdReplace_Click()
Dim from_text As String
Dim to_text As String
Dim dir_name As String
Dim patterns As Variant
Dim file_name As String
Dim i As Integer
Dim results As String

    ' Get the text to find and replace.
    from_text = txtFind.Text
    to_text = txtReplace.Text

    ' Get the directory name.
    dir_name = FileList.Path
    If Right$(dir_name, 1) <> "\" Then dir_name = dir_name _
        & "\"

    ' Get the file patterns.
    patterns = Split(FileList.Pattern, ";")

    results = "Files:"

    ' Repeat for each pattern.
    m_QuitEarly = False
    For i = LBound(patterns) To UBound(patterns)
        ' Add the pattern to the file name.
        file_name = Dir$(dir_name & patterns(i))
        Do While Len(file_name) > 0
            ' Process this file.
            If ReplaceInFile(dir_name & file_name, _
                from_text, to_text) Then
                results = results & " " & file_name
            End If
            If m_QuitEarly Then Exit For

            ' Get the next file.
            file_name = Dir$()
        Loop
    Next i

    MsgBox results
End Sub

' In the file file_name, replace occurrances of from_text
' with to_text. Return True if the string appeared and
' was replaced, False if the string was not in this file.
Private Function ReplaceInFile(ByVal file_name As String, _
    ByVal from_text As String, ByVal to_text As String) As _
    Boolean
Dim fnum As Integer
Dim file_text As String

    On Error GoTo ReplaceError

    ' Read the file.
    fnum = FreeFile
    Open file_name For Input As fnum
    file_text = Input$(LOF(fnum), #fnum)
    Close #fnum

    ' See if the text appears.
    If InStr(file_text, from_text) > 0 Then
        ' Replace the text.
        file_text = Replace(file_text, from_text, to_text)

        ' Rewrite the file.
        fnum = FreeFile
        Open file_name For Output As fnum
        Print #fnum, file_text;
        Close #fnum

        ReplaceInFile = True
    End If
    Exit Function

ReplaceError:
    Select Case MsgBox("Error " & Err.Number & _
      " processing file " & file_name & _
      vbCrLf & Err.Description & _
      "Try again?", vbYesNoCancel)
        Case vbYes
            Resume
        Case vbNo
            Exit Function
        Case Else
            m_QuitEarly = True
            Exit Function
    End Select
End Function
 
 
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