Using Clang-Rename¶

clang-rename is a LibTooling-based tool, and it’s easier to work with if you set up a compile command database for your project (for an example of how to do this see How To Setup Tooling For LLVM). You can also specify compilation options on the command line after –:

$ clang-rename -offset=42 -new-name=foo test.cpp -- -Imy_project/include -DMY_DEFINES ...

To get an offset of a symbol in a file run

$ grep -FUbo 'foo' file.cpp

The tool currently supports renaming actions inside a single translation unit only. It is planned to extend the tool’s functionality to support multi-TU renaming actions in the future.

clang-rename also aims to be easily integrated into popular text editors, such as Vim and Emacs, and improve the workflow of users.

Although a command line interface exists, it is highly recommended to use the text editor interface instead for better experience.

You can also identify one or more symbols to be renamed by giving the fully qualified name:

$ clang-rename -qualified-name=foo -new-name=bar test.cpp

Renaming multiple symbols at once is supported, too. However, clang-rename doesn’t accept both -offset and -qualified-name at the same time. So, you can either specify multiple -offset or -qualified-name.

$ clang-rename -offset=42 -new-name=bar1 -offset=150 -new-name=bar2 test.cpp

or

$ clang-rename -qualified-name=foo1 -new-name=bar1 -qualified-name=foo2 -new-name=bar2 test.cpp

Alternatively, {offset | qualified-name} / new-name pairs can be put into a YAML file:

---
- Offset:         42
  NewName:        bar1
- Offset:         150
  NewName:        bar2
...

or

---
- QualifiedName:  foo1
  NewName:        bar1
- QualifiedName:  foo2
  NewName:        bar2
...

That way you can avoid spelling out all the names as command line arguments:

$ clang-rename -input=test.yaml test.cpp

clang-rename offers the following options:

$ clang-rename --help
USAGE: clang-rename [subcommand] [options] <source0> [... <sourceN>]

OPTIONS:

Generic Options:

  -help                      - Display available options (-help-hidden for more)
  -help-list                 - Display list of available options (-help-list-hidden for more)
  -version                   - Display the version of this program

clang-rename common options:

  -export-fixes=<filename>   - YAML file to store suggested fixes in.
  -extra-arg=<string>        - Additional argument to append to the compiler command line
  -extra-arg-before=<string> - Additional argument to prepend to the compiler command line
  -force                     - Ignore nonexistent qualified names.
  -i                         - Overwrite edited <file>s.
  -input=<string>            - YAML file to load oldname-newname pairs from.
  -new-name=<string>         - The new name to change the symbol to.
  -offset=<uint>             - Locates the symbol by offset as opposed to <line>:<column>.
  -p=<string>                - Build path
  -pl                        - Print the locations affected by renaming to stderr.
  -pn                        - Print the found symbol's name prior to renaming to stderr.
  -qualified-name=<string>   - The fully qualified name of the symbol.

Vim Integration¶

You can call clang-rename directly from Vim! To set up clang-rename integration for Vim see clang-rename/tool/clang-rename.py.

Please note that you have to save all buffers, in which the replacement will happen before running the tool.

Once installed, you can point your cursor to symbols you want to rename, press <leader>cr and type new desired name. The <leader> key is a reference to a specific key defined by the mapleader variable and is bound to backslash by default.

Emacs Integration¶

You can also use clang-rename while using Emacs! To set up clang-rename integration for Emacs see clang-rename/tool/clang-rename.el.

Once installed, you can point your cursor to symbols you want to rename, press M-X, type clang-rename and new desired name.

Please note that you have to save all buffers, in which the replacement will happen before running the tool.