CHANGE Command

Commands › Primary Commands › CHANGE Command

CHANGE Command

Use the CHANGE Command to search for and change the next occurrence of a string in the module.

The Editor begins searching at the position of the cursor when you enter the command, and it searches downward until the string is found. If the cursor is on the Command line when you enter the command, the Editor begins searching at the top line displayed.

If the string is found, it is changed to the replacement string. The syntax for the CHANGE Command is:

Change {string {rstring     [{FIRST    [{X    [lb
             *}       *}      LAST       NX}]     [rb]]
                              ALL
                              PREV:eHP5.
                              NEXT◄}]

where:

string—specifies the string of characters to find and replace by the rstring.

rstring—specifies the string of characters used to replace the string.

* (asterisk)—specifies the string value from the last FIND or CHANGE command entered.

FIRST—specifies the first occurrence of the string is modified.

LAST—specifies the last occurrence of the string is replaced.

ALL—specifies that all occurrences of a string are to be replaced in scanned lines.

PREV—specifies the prior occurrence of the string is changed.

NEXT—specifies the next occurrence of the string is changed.

X—specifies only excluded lines are scanned.

NX—specifies only non-excluded lines are scanned.

lb—specifies the left bound.

rb—specifies the right bound.

Default: NEXT

Note: ALL, FIRST, and the 'lb rb' can appear in any order, but the rstring must follow the string.

The following are the rules that you need to follow while using CHANGE command:

If a string has embedded blanks, enclose the string in either single or double quotes. For example:
```
Change  'program nmae'  'program name'
CHANGE "program nmae" "program name"
```
If a string has a single asterisk (*), a number, ALL, or FIRST, enclose the string in quotation marks. For example:
```
CHANGE '*' 'comments'
```
If a string has leading quotation mark (single or double) enclose the string in quotation marks of the opposite kind. For example:
```
CHANGE '"t' t
CHANGE '*' 'comments'
```
If CAPS mode is OFF, enter the string as it appears in the text and the rstring as it should appear in the text. If CAPS mode is ON, all lower case characters are translated to upper case characters.

This command is available in edit mode.