How to batch modify entire lines containing keywords in multiple TXT files? Regular expression wildcard replacement tutorial

When text lines containing a certain keyword exist in multiple TXT files, opening each file and manually modifying them wastes a lot of time. This article uses replacing year lines in multiple TXT files as an example to explain how to use the full line replacement feature in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , import files, use regular expressions to match four-digit numbers, and uniformly replace the matched lines with new standard line content, helping office users quickly complete batch text organization.

When batch modifying text files, the biggest headache often isn't the modification itself, but the repetitive opening, searching, locating, and saving. Suppose a folder contains dozens or even hundreds of txt files, and each file has a line containing a specific keyword, such as the year 2020, a product code, a customer code, or a version number. Now, you need to change the entire line containing the keyword to a new standard description. If you rely entirely on manual processing with Notepad or a text editor, it's both slow and difficult to ensure consistency.

This article introduces a processing method more suitable for office scenarios: using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , utilizing the feature in text tools to find and replace complete lines in text files based on keywords, combined with wildcard regular expressions, to batch replace entire lines matching conditions in multiple txt files. The example will uniformly replace Annex A lines containing a four-digit year with Annex A - Q&A, helping you understand the complete workflow from file import to rule setting and result verification.

Applicable Scenario: Needing to batch replace entire lines, not just individual words

Many users initially try standard find and replace, but standard replacement is more suitable for changing word A to word B. If your requirement is to replace the entire line whenever it contains a keyword, then you need the complete line replacement feature. For example, an original line might be Annex A - Food and drink standards - revised 2020. The goal is not to change 2020 to 2024, but to change the entire line to Annex A - Q&A.

This need is very common in office document organization. For instance, batch modifying a chapter title in a text directory, batch replacing lines containing a specific port number in configuration files, batch cleaning records containing error codes in logs, batch unifying version statements in documentation files, or batch updating txt lists exported from a system. As long as the files are in text structure and the target lines can be identified by keywords or regular expressions, you can consider using this method.

Effect Preview: Comparing before and after replacement makes it easier to understand the rules

Before Processing: Many files, content needs to be located one by one

In the example, there are 5 txt files to be processed, named 1.txt through 5.txt. They are all located in the same batch task and need to be batch modified according to the same rules.

Opening 1.txt shows that the file contains content like Annexes and Contents. Among them, line 3 contains '2020', a four-digit number, which is the keyword characteristic to match this time. Because in actual batch office scenarios, this line might vary slightly across files, using fixed text search is not always convenient, so using a regular expression to match four digits is more flexible.

After Processing: Matching lines are uniformly replaced

After processing, checking the file again shows that line 3 has been changed to Annex A - Q&A. You can see that the software preserved the other text content and only replaced the complete line containing the matching keyword. This is the core value of the batch complete line replacement feature.

Operation Steps: Completing batch replacement in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool

Step 1: Find the corresponding feature in Text Tools

After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , select Text Tools from the left navigation. The page will list multiple text-related batch features. According to the screenshot, the one you need to click is Find and replace complete lines in text files based on keywords. The description of this feature also indicates that it is used to batch delete or replace entire lines containing a certain keyword in text files with new text.

The purpose of this step is to select the correct processing logic. Do not mistakenly select the feature that only replaces keywords, as this article aims to implement complete line replacement. Choosing the wrong feature might only replace a word, failing to achieve the effect of uniformly rewriting the entire line.

Step 2: Import multiple txt files

After entering the feature, you first arrive at the page for selecting records to process. The top right of the interface provides buttons for Add File, Import Files from Folder, Clear, and More. In the example task, 5 txt files have already been imported, and the list clearly displays information such as file name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time.

If your files are all in the same folder, it is recommended to use Import Files from Folder, so you don't need to select them one by one. After importing, first check if the record count is correct, confirming that all the txt files that need processing are in the list. Files that don't need processing can be removed via the action column. Once confirmed, click Next to enter the processing rule settings.

Step 3: Choose formula fuzzy search and enter regex rules

On the processing options settings page, first set the search method. The interface allows you to choose Exact Text Search or Formula Fuzzy Text Search. In this example, select Formula Fuzzy Text Search because you need to match four-digit numbers using an expression.

Enter \d{4} in the keyword to find list. This expression means matching a sequence of four consecutive digits, like 2020. Any line containing content matching this rule will be identified as a target line needing replacement. Then, enter Annex A - Q&A in the replacement keyword list. Once done, the software will replace the complete line matching the keyword with this new line content.

Note here that the right side is not for entering a fragment to replace a keyword, but for entering the complete line result after replacement. If you want the replaced line to contain more description, you should write out the final line text completely on the right.

Step 4: Set the save location and execute processing

After clicking Next, follow the wizard to the save location settings. For batch tasks, it is recommended to save the results to a new directory for easy comparison with the original files. Then proceed to the Start Processing step and execute the batch replacement. After processing is complete, randomly spot-check several output files to confirm that the target line has been replaced and other lines have not been mistakenly altered.

Frequently Asked Questions and Important Notes

How to choose between formula fuzzy search and exact search

If the content you are looking for is completely fixed, such as a specific term like 'Annex A', you can use exact text search. If you are looking for a type of content, such as a four-digit year, numeric codes, date formats, or patterned strings, formula fuzzy text search is more suitable.

Why was \d{4} entered in the example

Because the target line in the example file contains 2020, which is a sequence of four consecutive digits. Using \d{4} can match this type of content without being limited to a single specific year. In actual use, you should set the expression according to your own text patterns, always verifying with a few files before batch processing.

Will it affect lines that do not contain the keyword

From the post-processing screenshot, it can be seen that lines without the matching content remain unchanged. That is to say, this feature only processes complete lines containing the specified keyword or matching formula. To prevent overly broad matching rules leading to errors, it is recommended to make the expression as accurate as possible.

Can it process docx, doc, or PDF files

This article demonstrates batch processing of txt text files. The software interface also provides categories like Word Tools and PDF Tools; doc, docx, PDF, and other files should use the features under the corresponding category. Do not directly apply the processing logic for text files to all document formats.

Summary: Making complete line replacement in large volumes of text files more controllable

When batch modifying multiple txt files, the core is to first accurately locate the target lines, then uniformly replace them with standard content. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool turns the work of repeatedly opening files into a one-time process by batch importing files, setting search methods, filling in the replacement line content, and executing processing uniformly. For office users who frequently organize txt, logs, lists, and configuration texts, this method can significantly reduce repetitive labor and the risk of missed changes. It is recommended that you first prepare test files to verify the regular expression, then apply the rules to the complete folder to improve the accuracy and efficiency of batch processing.