Replacement Tool in CNC Program Code

The Replace Tool window allows you to safely and visually replace recurring occurrences of text in a CNC program (NC). The tool displays a list of all matches with line numbers and a Before → After preview, and provides options to perform replacements throughout the entire program or one match at a time.

Input Fields and Buttons

• Find: the string you want to search for (e.g., #4, G43, F200). Substring search within a G-code line is supported.
• Replace with: the string that will replace the found match (e.g., replace #4 with #14).
• SEARCH — run the search and generate a list of matches at the bottom of the window.
• CLEAR — clear the input fields and the results panel.

Search Results and Preview

After pressing SEARCH, a list of found matches appears below the form:

• Line — editor line number (e.g., L25).
• Before — the original fragment (highlighted in red).
• After — the replacement result (highlighted in green).
• Replace — button to perform a targeted replacement only in this line.

Bulk Replacement

To replace in all found lines at once, use:
Replace in all lines.

• Before bulk replacement, review the results list to ensure the Find pattern does not affect unwanted areas (e.g., inside comments).
• If needed, instead of bulk replacement, use targeted Replace for lines where the change is actually required.

Behavior and Limitations

• The search is substring-based and does not support regular expressions. If you need an exact token match (e.g., only #4 but not #40), specify the context (space/boundary) or verify the preview results.
• Replacement is performed on the current editor content. If a mistake is made, you can use Undo (Ctrl+Z).
• The Find field cannot be empty — the tool will request a valid input.
• When running a new search (SEARCH), the match list is rebuilt — this allows you to quickly adjust the pattern and compare results.

Practical Examples

• Replace a local variable: #4 → #14 throughout a subprogram.
• Unify feed rates: F200 → F300 in the finishing pass.
• Update tool length offset: H01 → H11 only in selected lines (using targeted Replace).

Tip: After bulk edits, run a simulation to ensure that the NC logic and toolpath remain correct.