vi - converting multiple spaces into a single space

[nappaji]

Hello,

How do I change multiple spaces into a single space on all lines in a file using vi.

I have done this before but dont seem to remember. I open the file using vi, and used to type in something like this

:%s/ \+/ /g

but this dont seem to work.

Please help.

 

[fredericofonseca]

There are other ways.

:g/ /s// /g

Not sure now if it will do ALL in one go or if you need to repeat it until not more occurencies found


Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[vgersh99]

:%s/ */ /g

vlad
+----------------------------+
| #include<disclaimer.h> |
+----------------------------+

 

[KenCunningham]

You can also do it outwith vi using tr.

 

[mrn]

s/[type a space & a tab here][type a tab & a space here/ /g

s/[ ][ ]/ /g

--
| Mike Nixon
| Unix Admin
|
----------------------------

 

[Ygor]

Could use tr to squeeze spaces within vi

{!}tr -s ' '

 

[guggach]

nappaji: this syntax is used in awk and perl, not in vi or sed
nixon: you are very close to solution
append a star '*' after the first OR second ']'
to repeat NULL or INFINITE times the first OR second match
so this lines are equivalent:

:%s/[TabSpace]*[TabSpace]/Space/g
:%s/[TabSpace][TabSpace]*/Space/g

will give what you want (same syntax for sed).
note the difference:

:s/\([TabSpace]\)*[TabSpace]/\1/g

replace all occurances of TabSpace by the first
encountered Tab OR Space


guggach