The Dry-Run with Preview feature in Block Editor Search & Replace Pro provides a safe and reliable way to test your changes before applying them. This functionality ensures that your edits are precise and error-free, giving you peace of mind when making changes to your WordPress content. In this post, we’ll explore how the Dry-Run with Preview feature works, its configuration options, and step-by-step usage, along with useful external resources to help you make the most of it.

Why Use the Dry-Run Feature?

Editing content directly can be risky, especially when dealing with bulk changes. The Dry-Run with Preview feature mitigates this risk by allowing you to review changes in a sandbox environment before they are applied to your live content.

Key Benefits:

• Error Prevention: Test changes without altering the original content.
• Visual Feedback: See the highlighted changes in a preview format.
• Supports Multiple Formats: Works seamlessly with text, images, links, and multiple terms.
• Selective Application: Apply changes only after confirming they are accurate.

For a detailed overview of content editing best practices, check out WordPress Editing Tips.

How to Enable Dry-Run as Default

To streamline your workflow, you can enable the Dry-Run feature by default from the plugin’s Options page.

Steps to Enable:

1. Navigate to the Options section in the plugin menu.
2. Locate the Dry-Run Settings option.
3. Set Dry-Run to “Yes” to enable it by default.

Once enabled, every search and replace operation will run in dry-run mode unless explicitly turned off.

How the Dry-Run Process Works

The Dry-Run with Preview feature is designed to ensure no changes are made to your live content until you confirm them.

Key Workflow:

1. Initiate a Search: Perform a search for the desired text, image, link, or multiple terms.
2. External Table for Previews:
   • The plugin creates a copy of the post with highlighted matches.
   • This preview is stored in an external table, leaving the original post unchanged.
3. Open Preview Changes:
   • Click the Preview Changes button.
   • A modal window will open, displaying a minimally formatted preview of the changes.
4. Apply Changes:
   • If satisfied with the preview, click the Apply Changes button to implement the edits on the original post.
5. Final Replace Action:
   • Add the replacement input and click the Replace button to finalize the operation.

For more information on how to create and manage backups for added safety, read this WordPress Backup Guide.

Supported Search Methods

The Dry-Run with Preview feature works seamlessly with the following search methods:

• Text: Highlights and previews text changes without modifying the original content.
• Images: Ensures image URLs are correctly identified and previewed before replacement.
• Links: Updates link URLs with accurate previews.
• Multiple Terms: Handles multiple search terms simultaneously, highlighting each instance.

Unsupported Methods

• Shortcodes, HTML, and RegExp: These advanced search methods fall under Expert Mode and do not support dry-run previews. To learn more about using regular expressions in WordPress, check out Regex101.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Dry-Run with Preview

Here’s a detailed guide to performing a dry-run operation using the plugin:

Step 1: Perform a Search

• Enter your search query in the plugin’s search field.
• Choose your desired search method (text, image, link, or multiple terms).

Step 2: View Highlighted Results

• After running the search, the plugin generates a copy of the post content with highlighted matches.
• This copy is stored in an external table, ensuring no changes are made to the original post.

Step 3: Open the Preview Changes Modal

• Click the Preview Changes button.
• A modal window will appear, showing the proposed changes with minimal formatting.

Step 4: Review and Apply Changes

• Carefully review the highlighted changes in the modal.
• If satisfied, click the Apply Changes button to implement the edits on the live content.

Step 5: Replace Content

• Enter the replacement input in the provided field.
• Click the Replace button to finalize the operation.

For more on working with modals in WordPress, visit this helpful guide: Using Modals in WordPress.

Practical Use Cases for Dry-Run

The Dry-Run with Preview feature is useful in various scenarios:

Bulk Editing Text Content

• Preview changes to text across multiple posts to ensure consistent formatting and accuracy.
• Ideal for rebranding or updating outdated terms.

Updating Image URLs

• Verify image URL replacements during site migrations or CDN changes.
• Prevent broken links by testing changes before applying them.

Fixing Broken Links

• Identify and replace broken links with accurate URLs.
• Use the preview to confirm that the correct links are updated.

Managing Multiple Terms

• Update multiple keywords simultaneously, ensuring all instances are correctly identified and replaced.

For tips on fixing broken links, refer to How to Fix Broken Links in WordPress.

FAQs

Can I Skip the Dry-Run Process?

Yes, you can disable dry-run mode for individual operations, even if it’s set as the default.

What Happens to the Preview Data?

Previews are stored in an external table and do not modify the original post content until changes are applied.

Can I Undo Changes After Applying Them?

Yes, by using the plugin’s Backup and Restore feature. Learn more about backups in this guide.

Why Dry-Run Matters

The Dry-Run with Preview feature is a critical component of Block Editor Search & Replace Pro, offering:

• Safety: No changes are made until you approve them.
• Clarity: See exactly how your changes will look before they are applied.
• Flexibility: Works with multiple content types for versatile editing.

The Dry-Run with Preview feature in Block Editor Search & Replace Pro is an essential tool for anyone who values precision and control in content editing. Whether you’re updating text, images, or links, this feature ensures your changes are accurate and risk-free.

The Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin offers a powerful Backup and Restore feature, ensuring that you can safely manage and recover content changes. Unlike WordPress’ built-in revision system, this feature creates dedicated backups for plugin operations, giving you precise control over content modifications. In this guide, we’ll explore how the Backup and Restore feature works, its configuration options, and detailed steps for restoring backups, all while providing additional resources to help you make the most of this functionality.

Why Use the Backup and Restore Feature?

WordPress revisions are helpful but limited in scope, as they only track post or page edits. The Backup and Restore feature in Block Editor Search & Replace Pro takes things further by storing plugin-specific backups in a dedicated database table.

Key Benefits:

• Independent Backups: Separate from the WordPress revisions system, focusing solely on plugin operations.
• Configurable Settings: Choose between automatic, manual, or no backups based on your workflow.
• Failsafe Mechanism: Even in “None” mode, the plugin retains one backup as a safety net.
• Efficient Restoration: Quickly revert changes with backups stored by date and time.

For more on WordPress revisions, visit this comprehensive guide.

How to Enable the Backup and Restore Feature

The Backup and Restore feature is not enabled by default. You’ll need to activate it from the plugin’s Options page.

Steps to Enable Backup:

1. Go to the plugin’s Options page in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Locate the Backup Settings section.
3. Choose one of the following options:
   • Auto: Automatically create backups during search and replace operations, with a maximum of 10 backups.
   • Manual: Backups are created only when triggered by the user.
   • None: Disables automatic backups but retains one backup as a failsafe.

For a step-by-step guide on adjusting plugin settings, check out this WordPress plugins tutorial.

Backup Options Explained

The plugin offers three distinct modes for managing backups.

1. Auto Mode

In Auto Mode, backups are created automatically during each search and replace operation.

• Specify the maximum number of backups to retain, ranging from 1 to 10.
• Once the limit is reached, the oldest backup is deleted to make room for new ones.

This mode is ideal for frequent users who need a seamless safety mechanism.

2. Manual Mode

With Manual Mode, users create backups only when necessary.

• Offers more control, especially for users performing occasional edits.
• Great for those who prefer to manage backups proactively.

3. None Mode

Disabling automatic backups still ensures one backup is always retained as a failsafe.

• Reduces database usage while maintaining minimal protection.
• Suitable for advanced users comfortable with fewer safety measures.

For tips on choosing the best backup strategy, refer to this guide on WordPress backup options.

Steps to Restore a Backup

Restoring content from a backup is straightforward with the plugin’s intuitive interface.

Step 1: Open the Restore Section

1. Navigate to the plugin’s menu or meta box in the WordPress dashboard.
2. Click the Restore link to access the backup management section.

Step 2: Fetch Backup Timestamps

1. Click the Fetch Timestamps button.
2. A dropdown menu will populate with available backups, labeled by date and time.

Step 3: Select a Backup

1. Choose the desired backup from the dropdown menu.
2. Confirm your selection.

Step 4: Restore the Backup

1. Click the Restore Backup button.
2. A confirmation message will appear, indicating that the restoration is complete.

For a deeper dive into WordPress data restoration, visit this resource on restoring WordPress backups.

How Auto Backups Work

In Auto Mode, the plugin ensures you’re always protected by creating a backup for every operation.

Example:

• You enable Auto Mode and set the maximum backups to 5.
• The plugin creates backups for five consecutive operations.
• On the sixth operation, the oldest backup is deleted to maintain the set limit.

This approach keeps your backup system efficient and clutter-free, especially for active sites.

Manual Backup Creation

Manual backups allow you to create recovery points before performing critical operations.

How to Create a Manual Backup:

1. Go to the plugin’s Backup section.
2. Click the Create Backup button before starting a search and replace operation.
3. Proceed with your changes, knowing you can revert if necessary.

For additional help, review this manual backup tutorial.

Backup Retention in None Mode

Even if you disable automatic backups, the plugin always keeps one backup for safety. This ensures you can recover recent changes, even with minimal configuration.

Example:

• You set the backup mode to None.
• The plugin automatically retains one backup after a search and replace operation.
• This backup can be restored using the steps outlined earlier.

Practical Tips for Using Backups

Use Auto Mode for Frequent Updates

If you perform regular edits, enable Auto Mode with a manageable backup limit (e.g., 5–7).

Plan Ahead for Major Changes

For site migrations or rebranding, create a manual backup before starting.

Test Backups Periodically

Verify that backups can be restored correctly by performing test recoveries.

Optimize Backup Storage

Monitor backup limits and clear older backups to avoid database clutter. For more tips, check out this comprehensive guide on WordPress backup management.

FAQs

Can I Restore a Backup After Switching Modes?

Yes, all backups are stored in a dedicated database table, independent of the selected mode.

What Happens When the Backup Limit is Reached?

In Auto Mode, the oldest backup is deleted when the maximum limit is reached.

Are Backups Stored Securely?

Yes, backups are stored in a dedicated table, separate from WordPress revisions, ensuring plugin-specific changes are safely archived. For security best practices, visit WordPress.org’s security guide.

Why the Backup and Restore Feature Matters

The Backup and Restore feature in Block Editor Search & Replace Pro provides unparalleled security and flexibility for managing content changes.

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced data protection with dedicated backups.
• Configurable options for tailored backup strategies.
• Seamless restoration process with time-stamped backups.

Whether you’re making minor updates or major site changes, this feature ensures you’re never at risk of losing valuable content. The Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin’s Backup and Restore functionality is a powerful tool for WordPress users who value data security and control. With its intuitive design and flexible options, this feature simplifies content management and ensures peace of mind.

The Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin is a powerful WordPress tool that simplifies content management tasks, whether you’re working with text, images, links, or custom post types. By integrating advanced search and replace functionality, this plugin allows for quick and accurate content updates. In this guide, we’ll walk you through using the plugin’s features and share helpful resources to get the most out of it.

Getting Started with the Pro Plugin

Before exploring the features, ensure the plugin is installed and activated. If you’re new to WordPress plugins, check out this detailed guide on how to install WordPress plugins. After activation:

1. Open any post or page in your WordPress Block Editor or Classic Editor.
2. Locate the Block Editor Search & Replace meta box or menu option.
3. Explore the available tools and configurations to begin using the plugin.

Key Features and How to Use Them

Search & Replace Across Custom Post Types

One standout feature of the Pro version is its ability to target custom post types (CPTs), like portfolios or testimonials, for search and replace operations.

• How to Use:
  1. Open the Block Editor Search & Replace meta box.
  2. Select the desired custom post type from the dropdown or settings menu.
  3. Enter your search term, specify your replacement, and click Replace.

Want to learn more about CPTs? Check out this guide on custom post types in WordPress.

Dry-Run with Preview

This feature lets you preview your changes before applying them, ensuring every edit is precise.

• How to Use:
  1. Input your search term and replacement text in the fields.
  2. Click Dry-Run to view a preview of the changes.
  3. Adjust as necessary before clicking Replace.

For tips on previewing WordPress content, read this helpful article: Previewing Posts and Pages in WordPress.

Multiple Terms Search and Replace

Save time by searching and replacing multiple terms, images, or links in one action.

• How to Use:
  1. Separate search terms with commas in the search field.
  2. Provide replacement terms, also separated by commas.
  3. Click Replace to execute.

Want to optimize your search queries? Learn more about advanced search techniques in WordPress.

Shortcodes, HTML, and RegEx Support

For developers or advanced users, this feature enables you to target dynamic content using shortcodes, HTML tags, or regular expressions (RegEx).

• How to Use:
  1. Input a shortcode, HTML element, or RegEx pattern in the search field.
  2. Define your replacement text or code.
  3. Run a dry-run to preview and then apply the changes.

New to RegEx? Check out this beginner’s guide to understanding regular expressions.

Partial Image and Link URL Replacements

Modify specific portions of image or link URLs without affecting the entire string, which is especially useful during site migrations or CDN updates.

• How to Use:
  1. Search for the portion of the URL you want to update.
  2. Input the replacement text for the targeted section.
  3. Click Replace to apply the update.

For site migration tips, visit this guide: How to Migrate a WordPress Site.

Removing Text Limitations

Bypass character limits and disable text sanitization for unrestricted edits.

• How to Use:
  1. Toggle the Disable Text Limitations option in the settings.
  2. Enter your search and replacement terms.
  3. Apply changes without restrictions.

Learn more about WordPress text sanitization with this developer resource.

Multilingual Compatibility

Effortlessly update content across multilingual websites without additional plugins or configurations.

• How to Use:
  1. Enter search terms in the relevant language.
  2. Run the search and replace process as usual.

To learn about building multilingual WordPress sites, explore this guide: Creating Multilingual Sites with WordPress.

Backup and Restore

Protect your content by creating backups before making significant edits and restoring them if needed.

• How to Use:
  1. Use the Backup feature before starting a large-scale edit.
  2. If necessary, click Restore to revert to the previous version.

Need help with WordPress backups? Check out this tutorial: How to Back Up Your WordPress Site.

Additional Settings and Customization

The Pro plugin includes several customization options to suit your workflow:

• Role-Based Access: Restrict plugin access to specific user roles.
• Post Type Limitations: Choose which post types are included in search and replace.
• Editor Preferences: Enable or disable support for the Block Editor and Classic Editor.

Explore more about WordPress user roles and permissions here.

Practical Use Cases

Rebranding Across Your Site

Rebranding requires updating your brand name, logo URLs, and other assets across your site.

• Use Multiple Terms to replace old branding elements in one action.
• Preview changes with Dry-Run to ensure accuracy.

Fixing Broken Links

Keep your site error-free by replacing outdated or broken links.

• Use the Partial Replacement feature to modify affected sections of URLs.
• Learn more about identifying broken links here.

Common Questions and Helpful Resources

Can I Undo Changes After Applying Them?

Yes! Use the Backup and Restore feature to revert your edits if needed.

How Can I Target Dynamic Content?

Utilize the Shortcodes, HTML, and RegEx Support feature for complex or dynamic patterns.

Is There a Way to Test Changes Before Applying Them?

Absolutely! The Dry-Run with Preview feature ensures you can review changes before committing to them. Need more tips? Visit the WordPress Support Forums for additional help.

Why Block Editor Search & Replace Pro Is Worth It

By combining advanced functionality with an intuitive interface, the Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin makes content management effortless.

Key Benefits:

• Save time with efficient bulk editing tools.
• Ensure accuracy with preview and backup options.
• Manage dynamic and multilingual content with ease.

Conclusion

The Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin is an indispensable tool for WordPress users who want to manage their content efficiently. With features designed for precision and flexibility, it simplifies even the most complex editing tasks. Ready to optimize your WordPress site? Start using the Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin today and take your content management to the next level! For more information, visit WordPress Plugins Directory.

After successfully installing and activating the Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin, you must enter your license key to unlock its features. If the license key is not entered or is invalid, you will see the message: “Invalid or empty license key! You need to enter and activate your license on the License page.”

Locating Your License Key

Your license key is provided at the time of purchase and can be found in several places:

1. Purchase Receipt: After completing your payment, the license key will be displayed on the purchase confirmation page.
2. Email Confirmation: Check the inbox of the email address you used during registration for a receipt that includes your license key.
3. My Account Section: Log in to your account on the plugin’s website and navigate to My Account > Orders to view your license key.

If you need help locating your license key, refer to the plugin support documentation.

Activating Your License

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin area and navigate to the Block Editor Search & Replace Pro settings page.
2. Click on the License tab. If this is your first time, the license status will show as Inactive, indicating no license has been entered.
3. Copy your license key and paste it into the license activation field.
4. Click the Activate License button.

If the activation is successful, you will see the message: “Plugin license key has been activated successfully!” The license status will change from Inactive to Active.

Start Using the Plugin

Once your license is activated, you can access all the features and updates included with your purchase. For more details on licensing and troubleshooting, visit the plugin’s FAQ.

Plugin updates for Block Editor Search & Replace Pro are delivered seamlessly, just like any other plugin installed on your WordPress website. When an update is available, you will be notified directly within your WordPress Admin dashboard, under Dashboard > Updates or Plugins > Installed Plugins, similar to plugins hosted on the WordPress.org Plugin Repository.

Enabling Auto-Updates

For convenience and security, it is strongly recommended to enable the “Enable auto-updates” option for the plugin. By doing so, your site will always run the latest version of Block Editor Search & Replace Pro, ensuring compatibility, new features, and protection against vulnerabilities. Learn more about plugin auto-updates in this guide.

Licensing and Updates

You will continue to receive plugin updates and support as long as your license remains active and valid. Updates include:

• New features or enhancements
• Security patches
• Compatibility improvements with the latest WordPress version

If your license expires or you cancel auto-renewal—whether directly from your account on the plugin’s website or via PayPal—you will no longer receive updates or support for the plugin. However, the plugin will still function on your site in its current version.

License Expiry Notifications

Before your license expires, you will receive an email notification to remind you to renew. This ensures you have ample time to renew and maintain access to updates and support. For more details about license management, refer to the plugin documentation or contact plugin support. By staying updated, you ensure your website remains secure and benefits from the latest features of Block Editor Search & Replace Pro.

Installing the Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin through WordPress is the easiest and most user-friendly method. It requires no additional software and can be done directly from your WordPress Admin area. However, if you lack permission to upload plugins via WP Admin (common in restricted hosting environments), you will need to use an alternative method, such as FTP or SFTP.

Installing via WordPress Admin (Preferred Method):

1. Download the Plugin: After purchasing the plugin, log in to your account on the plugin website and download the block-editor-search-replace-pro.zip file to your computer.
2. Upload the Plugin: In your WordPress Admin area, navigate to Plugins > Add New. At the top of the page, click the Upload Plugin button. Browse to the block-editor-search-replace-pro.zip file you downloaded, select it, and click Install Now. For more details, refer to this guide.
3. Activate the Plugin: Once the installation completes successfully, click the Activate button to enable the plugin.

Important Notes:

• If you already have the free version of the plugin installed, it will either need to be deactivated manually or will deactivate automatically upon activating the pro version. WordPress does not allow both versions of the plugin to be active simultaneously.
• After activation, you can access the plugin’s main settings page from the WordPress Admin menu.

Alternative Method: Installing via FTP/SFTP:

If you cannot install via the WordPress dashboard, you can use FTP or SFTP tools such as FileZilla or WinSCP. This method requires extracting the plugin zip file and uploading it to your server under the wp-content/plugins directory. Following these steps ensures your plugin is correctly installed and activated, ready for use. Should you encounter issues, visit the WordPress support forums or contact plugin support for assistance.

To install the Block Editor Search & Replace Pro plugin, you can upload the plugin files to your server via FTP or SFTP using tools such as FileZilla or WinSCP. Follow the steps below for a seamless installation process:

1. Download the Plugin: After purchasing the plugin, log in to your account on the plugin website and download the block-editor-search-replace-pro.zip file to your computer.
2. Unzip the Archive: Extract the downloaded zip file into a folder named block-editor-search-replace-pro. This will contain all the necessary plugin files. If you’re unsure how to unzip files, refer to this guide.
3. Upload the Plugin Files: Using your preferred FTP or SFTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP), connect to your server and navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory. Upload the extracted block-editor-search-replace-pro folder into this directory. Learn more about FTP in WordPress documentation.
4. Activate the Plugin: Once the upload is complete, log in to your WordPress Admin dashboard. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins, locate Block Editor Search & Replace Pro, and click Activate.

Important Notes:

• If you already have the free version of the plugin installed, you must either deactivate it manually or let it deactivate automatically during this process. WordPress does not allow both the free and pro versions of the plugin to be active simultaneously.
• After activation, you can access the plugin’s features from its main settings page in your WordPress Admin area.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure the plugin is correctly installed and ready to use on your WordPress site. Should you encounter any issues, refer to the WordPress troubleshooting guide or contact support for assistance.