wgrep allows you to edit a grep buffer and apply those changes to the file buffer like sed interactively. No need to learn sed script, just learn Emacs.

Put this file into load-path'ed directory, and byte compile it if desired. And put the following expression into your ~/.emacs.

(require 'wgrep)

You can edit the text in the grep buffer after typing C-c C-p . After that the changed text is highlighted. The following keybindings are defined:

• C-c C-e: Apply the changes to file buffers.

• C-c C-u: All changes are unmarked and ignored.

• C-c C-d: Mark as delete to current line (including newline).

• C-c C-r: Remove the changes in the region (these changes are not applied to the files. Of course, the remaining changes can still be applied to the files.)

• C-c C-p: Toggle read-only area.

• C-c C-k: Discard all changes and exit.

• C-x C-q: Exit wgrep mode.

• To save all buffers that wgrep has changed, run

M-x wgrep-save-all-buffers

• To save buffer automatically when wgrep-finish-edit.

(setq wgrep-auto-save-buffer t)

• You can change the default key binding to switch to wgrep.

(setq wgrep-enable-key "r")

• To apply all changes regardless of whether or not buffer is read-only.

(setq wgrep-change-readonly-file t)

• wdired.el like interface.
• Support GNU grep --context (-A -B and -C) option.
• Can handle too many files.
• Can handle newline insertion in grep buffer.
• Delete whole line include newline.

GNU sed helm-ag has a similar feature.

This program was forked from Matsushita Akihisa's grep-edit.el v2.11. As this website is now inaccessible, emacswiki.org's copy may be consulted.

Imported version can be downloaded from this orphan commit: https://github.com/mhayashi1120/Emacs-wgrep/tree/import-original-author/

Following added implementations and differences.

• Support GNU grep context option -A -B and -C
• Some bugfix. (wrong coloring text etc..)
• wdired.el like interface.
• Remove all advice.
• Bind to local variables. (grep-a-lot.el works well)
• After save buffer, colored face will be removed.
• Change face easy to see.
• Reinforce checking error.
• Support removing whole line include new-line.