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Search & Replace for Joomla!
Search & Replace content across your entire site in seconds. This component searches and replaces content at lightning speed across your entire Joomla! site.
Replacements are made in the database itself, which vastly speeds up page load time compared to other components and plugins.
You can quickly add links, change spellings, cross-reference your pages, bulk update your content and so forth.
Change content in Titles, Introductions, Main Content, or a selection of those - all at the same time.
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How to use
- Create a backup of your database
- Enter the text to search for
- Enter the text to replace your search string
- Hit Replace Now! to update your database
- Check your site for changes.
Minimum System Requirements
- Joomla 1.5 or Joomla 1.6
- PHP 4 with MySqli, or PHP 5
Tips
- Keep it simple. Longer strings sometimes match less cases - often due to variances in whitespace
- Disable your cache while you make changes so that you can instantly see what has been changed.
- If you are searching for a link such as <a href="http://www.yoursite.com/mypage.html"> and don't get any hits, try just searching for the address, such as http://www.yoursite.com/mypage.html.
- Sometimes text is rendered in your browser differently to the way it is stored in the database. The key to successful searches is to keep search phrases short and simple, avoiding multiple lines if possible.
- This component is extremely powerful, so please back up your database before you use it.
IMPORTANT: After purchase, please click the "Return to Merchant"
button in PayPal to register for updates and to access your download.
Your comments
Hi would this work in title and meta descriptions?
Need to add October 2017 to like 250 menu titles and descriptins and have it change every month/year
Hi Claire,
Thank you for your message. Search and Replace is used to change the article titles and content, but does not affect meta titles and descriptions. It also doesn't affect menu titles, so you might need a different tool for this
All the best, Barnaby Dixon
This is a very helpful component. Saved me from exporting the MySQL file and editing it directly. Excellent at replacing strings on the same line, however I have tried to replace search and replace HTML over a few lines, and the search string is not found in multiple cases. Is there a line break character that I need to insert, or does the component need to be updated to actually handle search & replacing strings with line breaks?
Hi there,
Thank you for your message. The issue with searching whitespace is that it won't always match - for example if you have a new line with extra spaces, it won't match. But that said, you could try entering \n or \r\n where the new lines are... it should work!
Hope that helps! All the best, Barnaby Dixon
Based on additional comments, I tried to use \r\n - however these are immediately removed with clicking Search. I also discovered that a \ is needed prior to a ", thus \" effectively is a quote " in the Database. I tried this too, and zero luck. Could it be that Search & Replace strips the backslash \ ?
As a non-coder, I fail to understand why Tiny MCE is similar editor can't be used to implement the search and replace fields, thus allowing users like myself to search for several lines of code. I was sold on this aspect of the Component, but clearly it doesn't work like that. Maybe this could be implemented in an update?
Thank You!
I am getting this error message:
COLLATION 'utf8_bin' is not valid for CHARACTER SET 'utf8mb4' SQL=UPDATE `#__content` SET `fulltext` = REPLACE(`fulltext`, 'Wintrillions', 'TheLotter') WHERE ( `fulltext` LIKE '%Wintrillions%' COLLATE `utf8_bin` ) AND ( `catid` IN ('14','19','20','21','22','64','65','66','67','75','23','69','70','68','24','25','26','27','28','72','73','29','30','76','9','78','83','79','84','80','85','81','86','82','87','88','89','90','98','97','91','92','93','94','95','99','100','96','101','102','103','104','105'))
What is the problem here? The extension worked like a charm on a different site.
Hi there,
This is to do with the latest version of Joomla 3.5.1 which is supposed to have converted the database to utf8mb4 from normal utf8_bin
Often the conversion fails for various reasons, and it's a bit short sighted of the Joomla development team to have switched to this format which isn't supported by all servers.
Please go to Joomla > Administrator > Extensions > Manage > Database and click the Fix button. This often does the trick of completing the conversion. If that doesn't help please ask your server admins to check your MySql database engine can support ust8mb4 and update your version of MySql if needed
That should help... please let me know how it goes
All the best, Barnaby Dixon
Actually to fix this, you need to edit the controller.php file within /administrator/components/controller.php and change: utf8_bin to: utf8mb4_unicode_ci
Many thanks
Tony
Thanks Tony, you are right.
Just to confirm the latest version of Search & Replace deals with this correctly.
All the best, Barnaby Dixon
i am also getting same error.
An error has occurred.
1253 COLLATION 'utf8_bin' is not valid for CHARACTER SET 'utf8mb4' SQL=SELECT `id`, `title` FROM `#__content` WHERE ( `introtext` LIKE '%Blackberry%' COLLATE `utf8_bin` OR `fulltext` LIKE '%Blackberry%' COLLATE `utf8_bin` OR `title` LIKE '%Blackberry%' COLLATE `utf8_bin` ) AND ( `catid` IN ('9','94','100','101','111','112','113'))
Please download the latest version of Search & Replace and it should work well for you. You can download via the Downloads link above.
Barnaby:
I just wanted to let you know, I needed to go through a new J! site, to find all vestigial links to an old site, on a different URL. I was pulling my hair out, until I had the smarts to buy this extension, install it and do a fast search. I found every old link pointing to the WRONG url paths, and was able to go in and fix them. Titles, content, everything. I *love* this extension, it totally rocks. --Hitch
Thank you for your very kind words!
Am I able to exclude the code when making a change? I need to change a word and that word is in some of the page names. I don't want the page names to change, just the text on the pages.
Thanks!!!
Hi Shirley,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately what you're asking is quite tricky... the page name is used in both the page content and as the page name. You can't change one without changing the other.
The only way to do what you want is: go to Content > Article Manager > Options > Articles and change 'Show Title' to 'Hide'.
Then, edit each article and add the text you want to use as your title, and give it the formatting "Header 1".
All the best, Barnaby Dixon
hi, if this component is compatible with k2 Articles?
Yes correct it works with Joomla and with K2.
Al the best, Barnaby Dixon
Maravilhoso
Hi
Is there any way to replace stuff in the body like the following code:
I purchased the extensions, but it seems that this isn't possible....
Thanks for your help.
Frank
//SOLVED//
Hi! I just had to post a review. I just purchased the Search and Replace component and I am thrilled! I just completed a job in about 5 minutes that I was dreading, because it was going to take me hours!
This is the 2nd program I have purchased from you. I also have migrate me and couldn't be more pleased. I will be looking for anything else you develop!
Thanks!!
Hello,
I just got your search and replace app, and in the search categories, there is only blog, and uncategorized. how do i expand the search scope of the app to search other areas of the website?
Hi there
Search & Replace searches in your articles and custom HTML modules. The scope is Joomla content.
Where do you need to search...?
Thanks! Barnaby Dixon
1. When you do a search/replace is there a log created indicating which articles were changed?
2. We may want to search for a name and replace it with several different permutations depending on the context. Is it possible to go through each search result and decide what to replace it with one by one by one?
Hi David
Thank you for your questions.
There's not a log, but you are able to run the search before the replace, so that you can see which articles will be included in the search & replace.
Unfortunately you can't search and replace on an individual article basis, but you can restrict the search by category - I hope that could be helpful.
All the best - Barnaby Dixon
This is an awesome product! It is really powerful!! It is so powerful that I could use some help understanding what I did. I can't seem to re-search and find the string I just changed. Any way to help? Great, great product!!
Dear Barnaby,
A wonderful piece of work. I'm currently constructing a huge text-based website and the S&R component has worked miracles.
Still, I would like to address the wildcards once more. Right now, I'm facing some site-wide editing and formatting that instead of a time-consuming process of many days would turn into a breeze if I could include wildcards such as "ex*mple" in the search and replace syntax. If you could update the component to allow such, it would rise to stardom.
Kind regards,
Pieter
Hi there Pieter,
Thank you for your feedback. I'll work on adding wildcard functionality in a future release.
All the best,
Barnaby Dixon
PHP Web Design
Hello Barnaby,
I purchased this product because it says "Search & Replace for Joomla is used to search & replace content in your Joomla articles. You can search for any word, HTML, or content, and replace it with whatever you like.
I am trying to replace an HTML string;
ie.
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed24/7 Live Support Every DaySecure and Reliable
WITH
{loadposition calltoaction}
The above will be replaced in articles
Is there a trick to it? It says No results
Thank you,
Patti
Sorry Barnaby,
It is the actual html coding that I am trying to replace including the text shown above
Patti
Hi there Patti,
Thanks for your inquiry. Can you confirm the term you want to search is available in your article editor? If so, try this: click 'HTML' or 'View HTML source' in your article editor, and copy the phrase exactly as it appears. The search & replace engine should then be able to find it.
Let me know how you get on.
All the best - Barnaby
Works great now thanks! Patti
Hi Barnarby
I have lots of documents with "" embedded in them. Unfortunately, the module concerned has stopped working and I need to replace it. The replacement module is #197. I assume that replacing with throughout my articles is simple with your component.
Hi there Michael,
Absolutely - a search and replace term like this would be very simple indeed.
All the best,
Barnaby Dixon
Hi stephan,
Before I would purchase I wonder if I can changes tab names or add more in few categories example {tab=About}{tab=Services} and if I would like to add one more in pages can the search and Replace can do that? It would same me lots of time for my client instead of going 50 pages and do it manually.
Let me know
Regards
Hi there,
Yes absolutely - you can search and replace anything like this in seconds.
All the best, Barnaby
I purchase the product and I really love it but.. Is there a way that when I do the search and replace, It will show the changes as well in the Articles.
as I mentioned before. I did a test with tabs and work beautifully. I only have the concern that if I would like to add text in one of the tabs in the article, it doesn't show. It maintain the way it is and if I would like to add an extra text in the article, it erase the change for the tabs when I do the preview..
Is there any way that can be fix it?
Thanks in Advance..
Changes looks good but if doesn't store in the articles as in the database it's a bit challenge to do it again manually
Hi there,
Thanks for your comments. I'm afraid I don't understand your question - all changes are made directly in the database, and are permanent. All I can imagine is that you have a cache enabled and you are seeing an old version of your pages?
All the best
Barnaby
I like the search and replace product very much and have used it over and over. I first purchased it on May 16, 2012. Has there been any update issued since? Again, thanks for this very useful extension.
Hi there Nick,
Thank you for your review. There hasn't been an update since May - when there is a major update available we send out emails with details.
All the best,
Barnaby Dixon
PHP Web Design
I need to add a set of divs to several hundred articles. Will this component allow me to accomplish this.
Thanks in advance.
Yes absolutely - and it'll only take a few seconds to complete the process.
All the best - Barnaby
I'm very interested by your extension but would have to use it with a php 4.x installation of Joomla 1.5. Will it work ?
Hiya Valerie, yes the component will work fine on PHP 4 so long as your system supports MySqli. All the best, Barnaby
I have a site that has a number of invalid links in articles that I need to change with new links. I wanted to be sure before purchase that this is possible to do.
Hi there - yes this is exactly what the search & replace component is ideal for.
Any problems just let me know.
All the best,
Barnaby
Hi Barnaby,
i have to say, this is absolutely "Swiss knife" for work with Joomla! and databases together. I had about 1000 articles for change (dimensions of our e-publishing from issuu.com) and many other changes of articles and fixes of bugs on http://www.metro.cz. Im working now on site chages and your componnet helped me as nothing. Yes, is possible to do those changes from Myadmin or so,but why, when you made this tool. Its clear and easy. Keep this great work and good luck for you.
Radek
Does this work across components? I need to globally change the URL on a bunch of remote video links in hwdvideoshare
Hi Scott - please email me separately for a custom build. I have recently updated the component to make upgrades like this much more simple, so it shouldn't be too difficult to set this up for you.
All the best,
Barnaby
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
Previewing your replacements before they are made would be very much appreciated.
Picking if you want to search your articles or your modules would also be cool.
You just saved me hours of work! You are my hero of the day.
Just wanted to say thanks, this is working great for me and has saved countless hours changing links throughout my site.
the changes are permanent? What happens if you uninstall the component? Are changes disappear?
thanks
Hi Carlos,
Yes - the changes are permanent in the database, and if you uninstall the component the changes remain in the database.
All the best,
Barnaby
Hey,
does the component allow wildcard replacements?
Thanks a lot,
Nadine
Hiya Nadine,
Sorry - it only takes fixed strings I'm afraid!
All the best,
Barnaby
Quick question: So if I have the text [city] throughout my site and wanted to change it to New York this would accomplish this?
Thanks,
R
Hi Rich - yes it will work fine & change all instances of [city] in your database to whatever you like.
All the best
Hi Barnaby,
Will the search and replace accept wildcards in the search string? I have accross my site the "...
Please email me an example of what you want to search and replace - the component does not currently accept wildcards, but I could update it to do so. Many thanks, Barnaby
It works perfect. Thank you.
I get the JFTP::store: Badresponse
Can't find the installation packet.
Is there another way to install?
Thanks.
Hi there, thank you for your message. Could you please confirm the version of Joomla running on your system?
Many thanks,
Barnaby
Hi again,
After investigation it would appear that CHMOD permissions are blocking the file upload. You may find some helpful answers on: http://forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?f=428&p=1251605
All the best,
Barnaby
I am sorry, my mistake.
Developing the site in a test environment and moving it to the live site gave some db errors thats why the installer didn't work anymore.
Does this component change the code in the database as well? For instance I have to find and replace many links to a new link can this software search for a link like:
domain.com/sub/sub/ to a relative link like /sub/
Hi there - yes, this component will search and replace both text and html code. So, if you search for href="http://www.thissite.com/ and replace it with href="http://www.thatsite.com/ it will change all the links throughout the site.
Let me know how you get on!
Barnaby
I love it, I love it, I love it.
Hip Hip Hurra
As we say in Swedish!
perfect, thanks
Thanks, very easy search and replace on the database, exactly what i needed.
How to install and run this component? Simply copying it into the folder doesn't work for me ... I am on 1.5.14.
Thanks for your help
Hi there Stefan! To install the component go to your Admin - Extensions - Install/Uninstall and then Upload Package File. Once you have uploaded the component it will appear in Components - Search and Replace.
