How to quickly change variable names in Vim?

Question

I am using Vim to read through a lot of C and Perl code containing many single letter variable names.

It would be nice to have some command to change the name of a va

Answer 1

The following is how to rename a variable which is defined in the current scope {}.

Move your cursor to the variable usage. Press gd. Which means - move cursor to the definition. Now Press [{ - this will bring you to the scope begin. Press V - will turn on Visual Line selection. Press % - will jump to the opposite } thus will select the whole scope. Press :s/ - start of the substitute command. / - will insert pattern that match variable name (that name you were on before pressing gd). /newname/gc - will initiate search and replace with confirmation on every match.

Now you have to record a macros or even better - map a key.

Here are the final mappings:

" For local replace
nnoremap gr gd[{V%::s////gc

" For global replace
nnoremap gR gD:%s////gc

Put this to your .vimrc or just execute. After this pressing gr on the local variable will bring you to :s command where you simply should enter new_variable_name and press Enter.