Google Search: sed replace cr/lf group:comp.unix.shell perl -i.bak -e 'undef $/; $_ = <>; s/PS1=\\\n\[.*\n\[.*/PS1='[ \$PWD ]'/; print' .profile Use the right tools for the right jobs. Perl isn't *always* the right solution, but it sure works for things like this. Just another Perl hacker,