## Review before changing values

Search & Replace opens from a completed Search result set. It shows the
original value and a calculated new value for each replaceable result, so you
can review the proposed change before applying it.

![Inspector Search & Replace showing original values, matched-text scope, per-row state controls, and visible-result actions](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/assets/captures/search-replace-preview.png)

## Prepare a replacement

1. Run a Search and remove or filter out results that should not be changed.
2. Select **Replace...** in Search.
3. Enter text in **Replace with** and choose a **Scope**:
   * **Matched text** changes only the text matched by the search.
   * **Whole value** replaces the complete property or extracted value.
   * **Whole line** replaces the line containing the match.
4. Review **Original value**, **State**, and **New value** in every row that
   will be changed.

When the original search used **RegEx**, the `.*` control enables regular
expression substitutions. With that option enabled, replacement expressions
can use capture groups such as `$1` and `$2`.

Changing the replacement text, scope, or substitution mode recalculates the
preview. Treat the preview as the proposed change until an apply action
reports success.

## Apply only the intended rows

* Select individual rows and use **Apply selected** from the context menu when
  the change must be limited to those rows.
* Use **Apply visible** to apply the preview to all rows still visible after
  tree or column filtering.
* Use the row state toggle when one row should be included or excluded from a
  reviewed set.
* Read the status bar. It reports visible results, total results, and the
  number of changes applied.

Rows whose extractor cannot write text are skipped. A failed write remains
  visible as a failed state so that it can be investigated rather than being
  mistaken for a successful replacement.

## Undo a reviewed change

Use the row toggle, **Undo selected**, or **Undo visible** from the context
menu to restore the original text for replacements that were applied from
this window. Recheck the state and value after undoing; an **Undo failed**
state means the original value could not be restored through the same
supported text writer.

Search & Replace is a layout-changing operation. Keep the result set narrow,
review the new-value column, and apply in a deliberate batch. See [Choose
Inspector tools](../overview/safety.md) for the read-only versus changing-tool
boundary.