In Eclipse, how do I replace a character by a new line?

Question

In Eclipse 3.3.2, I would like to replace a character (say ',') by a new line in a file. What should I write in the "Replace with" box in order to do so ?

EDIT : Many answers seems to be for Eclipse 3.4. Is there a solution for Eclipse 3.3.X ?

Training

Answer 1

Check box 'Regular Expressions' and use '\R' in the 'Replace with' box

It's a new feature introduced with Eclipse 3.4, See What's New in 3.4

Abaca

Check if Eclipse value assistance in the Replace with box offers you \R as a possibility, if it doesn't your Eclipse version doesn't handle it – Abaca

I'm on version 3.3.2 and, the assistance doesn't show me that value. – Training

This has bugged me for years. I can't believe I never took the time to google how to do it (which of course brought me here.) – Blooper

You saved my as minimum 15 minutes – Losse

Eclipse.org have stopped hosting that archived release. I found it online here: helpml.com:8088/help/index.jsp?topic=/… (click on Search in the Table of contents) – Forewarn

With the Find/Replace dialog open and in focus, press F1 to bring up a context sensitive help popup and then click on the link to Find/Replace with regular expressions to see all the supported escape sequences. – Forewarn

I am using Eclipse 4.25, and as suggested by @user9796835, I have to search with the Regular expression option selected (i.e. ticked) in order to enable the Regular expression option when I subsequently select the Replace option(s). – Joshuajoshuah

Answer 2

Check box 'Regular Expressions' and use '\n' in the 'Replace with' box

Amick

Yes, I tried that first but it is not working on my eclipse (3.3.2). – Training

This worked for netbeans – Whiffletree

Answer 3

Like the others said, just use regular expression, but instead of just \r, put \r\n

Rehm

Answer 4

if the file search is performed with Regular Expressions checkbox checked, then replace all / replace selected will also allow regular expression and will transform \n to a newline in the file(s)

Muckrake

Answer 5

I've just found an article about that problem. It seems to be a bug.

There's a workaround which is to copy a new line in clipboard and then paste it inside the "replace" box.

Training

I don't even understand what the workaround is supposed to be – Abaca

You'll have to select the "new line character" by clicking on the last character's line and move the mouse before the first character on the next line. I indeed select something but I'm not able to paste it in the replace box. – Training

Managed to paste using right click menu, but the replace won't insert newlines. – Abaca

invalid link on the answer – Morette

Answer 6

I'm using Helios and it works, however I had some issues with replacement... I wanted to place a line break between any of these brackets "><" (to make each new XML tag go to a new line)... first I had to place a chacter between the 2 brackets, for instance /r, after this i checked the "regular expressions" box and replaced the /r with \R, which resulted in the correct linebreak. otherwise, the replace seemed to be greyed out.

Gutturalize