Tip 92: Repeat the Previous Substitute Command

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Repeat a Line-Wise Substitution Across the Entire File

• repeat the command across the entire file just by pressing g&
• equivalent to: repeat the last substitute command using the same flags, the same replacement string, and the current search pattern, but use the % range.

  :%s//~/&
  

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h g&

Amend the Range of a Substitute Command

• gv command enables Visual mode and rehighlights the last selection.
• :&&
  • First & forms the :& Ex command, which repeats the last :substitute command.

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :&

• Second & indicates that the flags from the previous :s command should be reused.

Discussion

• & command is a synonym for :s, which repeats the last substitution.
• :&&: acts on the current line
• :'<,'>&& acts on the visual selection
• :%&& acts on the entire file.
• g& is a shortcut for :%&&

Fixing the & Command

preserves flags for the & command:

nnoremap & :&&<CR>
xnoremap & :&&<CR>