Find and replace not working in Word 2010

Laz123

I've got a name in a 34 page story I want to change but the find and replace isn't working. I've tried all sorts of combinations, highlighting all, not highlighting all etc. I have even done a repair on Word and rebooted but no go.

Any ideas?

WTFH

OK, assuming that the name has the same spelling throughout the document, then don't highlight, just open the document then press Ctrl +H

tyllwyd

What do you mean when you say it isn't working? Is the dialogue box coming up? Is it saying that it can't find the term? Can it find anything else, or is it just this particular name it isn't finding?


Have you got track changes in your document? Sometimes tracked changes within the word that you are searching for can confuse a find and replace search. If you have got changes tracked, try making a copy of your document, accept all the changes, then try doing a search.


Also - are you 100% sure that this name does appear in the document?

Laz123

I click the find on the home ribbon, top right corner, a navigation box comes up as a column on the left, I insert the name, click on the find options which are 'find' 'replace, 'go to', I fill in the replacement name, click ok and it always says 0 replacements.

BTW I tried a save as copy but still no go.

WTFH

OK, let's try again, but this time rather than replace, let's just do a find, but I want to check something else...

Open the document.
Do the words "Read Only" appear in the title bar at the top of the screen? (where it says the name of the document)
If those words appear, then you need to "save as" and give it a new file name.

Next, press Ctrl + F. Do not choose "replace".
In the box, type in the word you are looking for.
So, down the left hand side it will say:
Navigation
<box>(the word you are looking for)

Directly under that will be the number of matches, and under that is a link to each of the matches.
If there are no matches in the find screen, then it can't find them to replace them. Either you have mis-spelled the name in the search or in the document, or the name does not exist in it.

...but please follow the above instructions as detailed and let us know your results.

giraffe69

When you press replace there is a more button on the left of the box. That can have settings ticked in it so that, for example, it is only looking for your name in a particular font.

tyllwyd

Can you find other words - is it the find and replace function that is not working or is it a problem with just this word?

bod1467

Is this a PICNIC issue?

WTFH

bod1467 wrote: »

Is this a PICNIC issue?

I suspect so. But the OP seems to stay online long enough to make their post, then leave it until the next day, so I suspect we'll hear more tomorrow.

Laz123

No, it is not a problem in the chair. I am quite conversant with word.

This one had me flummoxed. It seems there is only one name the function doesn't work with.

Thanks anyway.

WTFH

What happened when you followed the steps I outlined above in post 5?