Re: global-replace to include linked files?

[Emanuel Berg <embe8573@student.uu.se>]

Sharon Kimble <boudiccas@skimble.plus.com> writes:

> I have a master document with 14 files linked into it
> like this --8<---------------cut
> here---------------start------------->8---
> \include{020-ob2014} --8<---------------cut
> here---------------end--------------->8--- is it
> possible to do a "global-replace" of ╭────
> │\begin{verbatim} ╰──── to ╭────
> │\begin{lstlisting}[frame=single] ╰──── please?

Another psychedelic post from Sharon...

> I tried "M-x replace-string" but that wasn't able to
> follow the import links to the subsidiary files.

Well, no. replace-string and almost everything you come
across won't work on anything else than the buffer.

But it is still possible to use Emacs to apply "set
functions" to files:

emacs --batch -l cl --eval '
      (dolist (filename (list $FILES))
         (find-file filename)
         ; do whatever to the file (i.e., to all files)
         (save-buffer)
         (kill-buffer) )'

Now, the $FILES is where it gets tricky. In zsh,
(I think) I had it working like this:
         
FILES=()
    for f in $@; do
        FILES+=\"$f\"
    done

Then just provide the files as arguments (the $@
part). You might do something similar in bash.

I also tried to do something similar in dired -
actually very close to what you want. Idea was, just
mark the files, then invoke (but it might be a problem
for you, as your files are perhaps not in the same
directory even, so the first method might be easier to
get right). Anyway:

(defun replace-regexp-in-marked (regexp to-string)
  (interactive "sRegexp: \nsTo: ")
  (save-window-excursion
    (let ((the-regexp regexp)
          (the-to-string to-string)
          (case-fold-search t) )
      (dolist (f (dired-get-marked-files))
        (find-file f)
        (replace-regexp the-regexp to-string nil (point-min) (point-max))
        (save-buffer) )))
  (dired-unmark-all-marks) )

Also, the Unix tools come to mind (sed, awk, Perl)...
  
Good luck! Be sure to tell us if you find a good way to
do it.
    
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