import sys for f in ['/tmp/aup.php', '/tmp/upbn.php']: with open(f, 'r') as fh: content = fh.read() original = content content = content.replace(':pick', '\x00PG\x00') content = content.replace(':pic', ':pick') content = content.replace('\x00PG\x00', ':pick') if content != original: with open(f, 'w') as fh: fh.write(content) n = content.count(':pick') - original.count(':pick') print('FIXED: ' + f + ' (' + str(n) + ' occurrences)') else: print('NOCHANGE: ' + f)