resolved. for reference:
link to script modifications:
;/brepbytes &binvar oldtext newtext
alias brepbytes {
var %p,%s,%r = 1,%l = 1
bunset &replace
while (%l <= $bvar($1,0)) {
while ($bfind($1,%l,$2).text) {
%p = $ifmatch
while (%l < %p) {
bset &replace %r $bvar($1,%l,1)
inc %r
inc %l
}
bset -t &replace %r $3-
inc %l $len($2)
inc %r $len($3-)
}
bset &replace %r $bvar($1,%l,1)
inc %r
inc %l
}
%l = 1
while ($bvar(&replace,%l,1) != $null) {
bset $1 %l $ifmatch
inc %l
}
}