Use REPLACE function with like operator

I would like to use the REPLACE function to replace specific text in a field.  I only need to replace that portion of identified text in the field and leave the remaining text before and after the replace intact.  How do I go about achieving this?  I assume the LIKE operator is needed in some fashion?
Gary HarperAsked:
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Jim HornMicrosoft SQL Server Data DudeCommented:
Give us a before and after data mockup of what you're trying to pull off here...
Gary HarperAuthor Commented:
In the example below would like to change the path information where field LIKE %H:PATH1\PATH2\PATH3% to %Z:\ABC\PATH1%.  There is text before and after this value.

BEFORE

<text>H:PATH1\PATH2\PATH3<text>

AFTER

<text>Z:\ABC\PATH1<text>
Kyle AbrahamsSenior .Net DeveloperCommented:
you can use a charindex instead:

--update table set <field> = replace(<field>, 'h:PATH1\PATH2\PATH3', 'z:\abc\path1') 
select <field> as old, replace(<field>, 'h:PATH1\PATH2\PATH3', 'z:\abc\path1') as new
from table
where charindex( 'h:PATH1\PATH2\PATH3',<field>) > 0

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Gary HarperAuthor Commented:
I get the following error:

Argument data type text is invalid for argument 1 of replace function.
Kyle AbrahamsSenior .Net DeveloperCommented:
The field is the column name of your table . . . as we don't know your schema the answer needed to be generic.
Gary HarperAuthor Commented:
I understand.  I put the column name in and received the above error.
Kyle AbrahamsSenior .Net DeveloperCommented:
What is the field type for the column (EG: Varchar, xml?)
Gary HarperAuthor Commented:
It is text.  Do I need to convert the field?
Kyle AbrahamsSenior .Net DeveloperCommented:
Yeah, do a cast to nvarchar(max).

Note that if your text is over 8000 chars there may be a truncation . . . in which case you would use:
http://www.sqlteam.com/article/search-and-replace-in-a-text-column

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Microsoft SQL Server 2008

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