Search and Replace

GNOME text editor allows you to quickly search in big text files for a specific text parts. Oftentimes these text parts need to be replaced also.

Search for text

  • Activate the search panel via Main Menu ▸ Find/Replace... or activate it via Ctrl+F.

  • Add your search term into the entry field.

  • The search is performed as you type. You can now iterate the search result with ↑ or ↓ or with the buttons beside the entry.

  • Pressing Enter will move the cursor to the currently highlighted search result.

  • Pressing Escape will discard the search panel and the search result.

Search tips & tricks

  • In order to quickly search for a word highlight the word and press Ctrl+F. The word will be automatically entered into the search entry.

  • The search can be refined with additional options in the gear menu.

    • Only match the whole word

    • Using regular expressions as search term

    • Respecting case sensitivity of the search term

Replace text

  • Activate the search panel via Main Menu ▸ Find/Replace... or activate it via Ctrl+H.

  • In case you opened the search panel via the Main Menu you have to click the button for activating the replace functionality.

  • Add your search term which should be replaced into the entry field.

  • Add your replace term into the second entry field.

  • The search is performed as you type. You can now iterate the search result with ↑ or ↓ or with the buttons beside the entry.

  • It is now possible to only replace the current search result element via Replace or you can replace all occurrences via Replace All.