How to replace text between quotes in vi

Question

Say I have this line of code:

$query = "SELECT * FROM table";

Is there a command in vi/vim which can instantly delete everything between quotes and position the cursor between them so I can start typing?

score 227 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 21 '16 at 08:09

227

Use ci", which means: change what inside the double quotes.

You can also manipulate other text objects in a similar way, e.g.:

ci' - change inside the single quotes
ciw - change inside a word
ci( - change inside parentheses
dit - delete inside an HTML tag, etc.

More about different vim text objects here.

edited Feb 21 '16 at 08:09

kabirbaidhya

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answered Jul 24 '12 at 12:04

Eugene Yarmash

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Seems only working with `vim`, but NOT `vi`. (Not sure) – Ivan Chau May 13 '14 at 03:11
For me this only works on the current line, not anywhere in the document. – And Finally Oct 18 '15 at 08:02
what command then would do this backwards? That is if you wanted to replace text inside of quotes that is behind the cursor. – dtburgess Jun 29 '16 at 14:34
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@dtburgess: One way is `F"ci"`. – Eugene Yarmash Jun 29 '16 at 14:59
ci' and ci" works fine, but ci( does not work for me. Anyone any ideas why? – Vram Vardanian Oct 19 '16 at 21:55
@Vram Vardanian `ci(` has a synonym `cib`, maybe it will work – Hope May 17 '18 at 08:29

score 29 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 24 '12 at 12:05

You can select between quotes and then delete (d), change (c) etc. using

vi"

Similarly, you can substitute braces, brackets, XML elements etc. thus:

vi(
vi{
vit

or to simply change/delete, do the corresponding di", ci" etc. Substituting a for i will encompassing the surrounding elements (so you mark or change the brackets and contents, for example)

Ulisses Caon · Answer 3 · 2018-04-10T13:14:33.490

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An addition to Brian's answer, you can also p(paste) and y(yank) the new value, so if you want to replace the value inside quotes with another value, you could do yi" on the selection that you want to copy, vi" to select the area that you want to replace and then just p to properly replace the value.

edited Apr 10 '18 at 13:14

answered Apr 10 '18 at 12:43

Ulisses Caon

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thank you. `yi"` is useful for copying text in between quotes. – ipatch Aug 04 '21 at 21:40

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 28 '14 at 05:02

I've made a plugin vim-textobj-quotes: https://github.com/beloglazov/vim-textobj-quotes

It provides text objects for the closest pairs of quotes of any type and supports quotes spanning multiple lines. Using only iq or aq it allows you to operate on the content of single ('), double ("), or back (`) quotes that currently surround the cursor, are in front of the cursor, or behind (in that order of preference). In other words, it jumps forward or backwards when needed to reach the quotes.

It's easier to understand by looking at examples (the cursor is shown with |):

Before: foo '1, |2, 3' bar; after pressing diq: foo '|' bar
Before: foo| '1, 2, 3' bar; after pressing diq: foo '|' bar
Before: foo '1, 2, 3' |bar; after pressing diq: foo '|' bar
Before: foo '1, |2, 3' bar; after pressing daq: foo | bar
Before: foo| '1, 2, 3' bar; after pressing daq: foo | bar
Before: foo '1, 2, 3' |bar; after pressing daq: foo | bar

The examples above are given for single quotes, the plugin works exactly the same way for double (") and back (`) quotes.

You can also use any other operators: ciq, diq, yiq, viq, etc.

Please have a look at the github page linked above for more details.

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 24 '12 at 12:04

4

From already inside the quotes you can do

di"

Read it as delete inside "

answered Jul 24 '12 at 12:04

Sam Peacey

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The cursor is not required to be within the double-quoted string, as the command defaults to changing the first such string in the line – Eugene Yarmash Jul 24 '12 at 12:22
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Thanks that's very good to know! Just goes to show I should read things a bit more carefully. :) – Sam Peacey Jul 25 '12 at 02:27

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 09 '20 at 19:21

The chosen answer is suitable ONLY for ViM but NOT for vi. The question is inaccurate as well because the author did not mention what is initial position of the cursor. If we assume that the cursor is inside the double quotes then for vi the answer will be:

T"ct"

Where:

T" - move back just after the " character

c - change command

t" - provide end position for c command, where it should stop erasing characters, in other words the range to change

How to replace text between quotes in vi

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