## 17.8. Using Search Patterns and Global Commands

Besides using line numbers and address symbols (., `$`, `%`), ex (including the ex mode of vi, of course) can address lines (Section 20.3) using search patterns (Section 32.1). For example:

`:/``pattern``/d`
  Deletes the next line containing pattern.
`:/``pattern``/+d`
  Deletes the line below the next line containing pattern. (You could also use `+1` instead of `+` alone.)
`:/``pattern1``/,/``pattern2``/d`
  Deletes from the next line (after the current line) that contains pattern1 through the next following line that contains pattern2.
`:.,/``pattern``/m23`
  Takes text from current line (.) through the next line containing pattern and puts it after line 23.

Note that patterns are delimited by a slash both before and after.

If you make deletions by pattern with vi and ex, there is a difference in the way the two editors operate. Suppose you have in your file named practice the following lines:

>     With a screen editor you can scroll the
>     page, move the cursor, delete lines, insert
>     characters and more, while seeing results
>     of your edits as you make them.

Key-strokes | Action | Results
--- | --- | ---
> `d/while` | The vi delete-to-pattern command deletes from the cursor up to the word while but leaves the remainder of both lines. |
>     With a screen editor you can scroll the
>     page, move the cursor, while seeing results
>     of your edits as you make them.
> `:.,/while/d` | The ex command deletes the entire range of addressed lines; in this case both the current line and the line containing the pattern. All lines are deleted in their entirety. |
>     With a screen editor you can scroll the
>     of your edits as you make them.

### 17.8.1. Global Searches

In vi you use a `/` (slash) to search for patterns of characters in your files. By contrast, ex has a global command, `g`, that lets you search for a pattern and display all lines containing the pattern when it finds them. The command `:g!` does the opposite of `:g`. Use `:g!` (or its synonym `:v`) to search for all lines that do not contain pattern.

You can use the global command on all lines in the file, or you can use line addresses to limit a global search to specified lines or to a range of lines.

`:g/``pattern``/`
  Finds (moves to) the last occurrence of pattern in the file.
`:g/``pattern``/p`
  Finds and displays all lines in the file containing pattern.
`:g!/``pattern``/nu`
  Finds and displays all lines in the file that don't contain pattern; also displays line number for each line found.
`:60,124g/``pattern``/p`
  Finds and displays any lines between 60 and 124 containing pattern.

`g` can also be used for global replacements. For example, to search for all lines that begin with `WARNING`: and change the first word `not` on those lines to `NOT`:

>     :g/^WARNING:/s/\<not\>/NOT/

-- LL, from Learning the vi Editor (O'Reilly, 1998)

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