Best Free Search and Replace Utility

 
In a Hurry?
  Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide
Introduction
Many programs have a search and replace function that allows you to replace text in the file you are currently editing. However, search and replace utilities allow you to replace text across multiple files or folders.
Discussion

Replace TextThe most powerful free program in this class is Replace Text (formerly BK ReplaceEm). It will carry out replacements in individual files, in a group of selected files, in a set of files determined by a file mask, or indeed every file in a folder.

Replacement can be by text string or by using regular expressions. You can even replace text within a nominated range such as html tags. The interface is both logical and powerful, but it does take a little getting used to, so read the Help file before using. Power users need look no further than this product.

 

A.F.9A little less powerful, but a tad easier for normal users is A.F.9. It allows multiple search and replace operations in the one pass, can save search and replace operations for later re-use, and has full drag and drop support.

 

InfoRapidThese programs are designed for use on text based files such as .txt and .html and must not be used on binary files or proprietary formats such as Microsoft Word.

 

If you want to search and replace these file types, then check out InfoRapid Search and Replace. It's not as powerful as the best binary editors, but with suitable add-ins it­ can handle certain Microsoft Office file types plus .rtf and .pdf

Quick Selection Guide

Replace Text    Rating 9 of 10  Gizmo's Top Pick

Pros   many replacement features, text and binary files
Cons   takes some time to learn
Developer Home Page   http://www.ecobyte.com/replacetext/
Download link   http://www.ecobyte.com/replacetext/
File Size   833 KB   Version 2.2   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements All Windows

A.F.9    Rating 7 of 10

Pros   multiple search and replace operations in the one pass
Cons   less powerful than Replace Text
Developer Home Page   http://www.fauland.com/af9.htm
Download link   http://www.fauland.com/af9_dl.htm
File Size   992 KB   Version 1.2   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Windows 9x/Me/NT4/XP

InfoRapid Seach and Replace    Rating 6 of 10

Pros   can handle certain Microsoft Office file types plus .rtf and .pdf
Cons   does not work with binary files
Developer Home Page   http://www.inforapid.de/html/searchreplace.htm
Download link   http://www.izarc.org/download.html
File Size  

1.03 MB   Version 3.1f   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista

Editor

This software category is in need of an editor. If you are interested in taking it over, please email Elizabeth, our editorial co-ordinator with a little bit about your background and in particular, whether you have any commercial affiliation with products in this category.

If you are currently logged in, you can contact Elizabeth directly by clicking here, if not then click here.

Tags

search text, replace text, search and replace text, free, freeware

Back to the top of the article

 

3.666665
Average: 3.7 (3 votes)
Your rating: None

So if Replace Text doesn't accept * as a wildcard, what is the equivalent for the ole "text*" to match "text editor", "text string" and so on?

One feature I would expect for such a utility (that a.f.9 does not have) is the option to leave the file date(s) unchanged.

If you're looking for just a search utlity, try wingrep.com. It finds a lot more than the built-in windows search.

If using a DOS Box try PDGREPPE that can use Extended Regular Expressions
and recurse into file systems(s) on BOTH text and binary files
and only change the fields specified. Many options.

PDGREPPE : Pattern Definition GREP Pattern Editor

It's part of both GREPPES and PENTA Text Tools.

Everything search engine,Locate files and folders by name instantly. Works on NTFS partition only! It's super super super fast! Amazing!
http://www.voidtools.com/download.php

There's also an official portable version of BK, now deceased: http://www.tinyapps.org/text.html , scroll down to BK.

You should check TextCrawler, quite good and faster than any other I tested so far: http://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/textcrawler.html

Yes, TextCrawler is by far the best there is. I've tried dozens and nothing even comes close to it. And it's updated regularly.

What a CRAP ! Freezes on every binary (CPU=100%, RAM=>150MB) !!!

Outdated and slow GUI.

Link to A.F.9. download should be http://www.fauland.com/af9_dl.htm

Looks like vgrep has moved - http://www.vgrep.aionel.net/

- Kent

Since this topic is petering out badly, might I suggest a couple of apps:

Multiple File Search and Replace 2.0
http://www.multiplefindreplace.com/
It's portable, too.

WildReplace v0.99beta
http://www.cylog.org/utilities/wildreplace.jsp
"WildReplace is now in public beta but is in fully working condition" Portable.

i agree. wildreplace is the best.

You might want to check some of your Download Links......a point in case being the one for AF9 which points to IZArc's website. ;-)

Post new comment

  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <b> <address> <blockquote> <br> <caption> <center> <code> <dd> <del> <div> <dl> <dt> <em> <font> <h2> <h3> <h4> <h5> <h6> <hr> <i> <img> <li> <ol> <p> <pre> <span> <strong> <sub> <sup> <table> <tbody> <td> <tfoot> <th> <thead> <tr> <u> <ul> <tr>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • [node:123] - insert full text (themed by theme('node'))
    [node:123 body] - insert node's body
    [node:123 teaser] - insert node's teaser
    [node:123 link] - insert link to node
    [node:123 collapsed] - insert collapsed node's body
  • You may use [view:viewname] tags to display listings of nodes.

More information about formatting options