Perform Multiple Search & Replace Functions In Excel

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02.13.2008 at 04:33PM PST, ID: 23161705

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7.6

Perform Multiple Search & Replace Functions In Excel

Zones: Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Word, Spreadsheet Software

I am working on several excel / csv files, and one of the columns is called 'categories', and I need to perform several search & replace functions on the text in this column. I am hoping there is an easy way to automate most of it so that I don't have to keep typing and repeating the same stuff via the default ctrl+h function.

For example, I have in the cell 'camera' and I need to replace all instances of that into 'Phography:Digital Cameras'. There may be other instances like 'camera accessories' and I would replace that into 'Photography:Digital Camera Accessories'. Notice that the word 'camera' occurs in both instances.. and when I am doing this manually sometimes the earlier replacements get overwritten.

Perhaps one way to try and get around that would be to use a case-sensitive switch. Basically I have approx 50+ different search and replace functions I need to perform each time I am working on a set of files. In the future for other sets of files there will be even more... so ideally I am looking for a way to make two lists, one with what to look for, and another with what I wanted it replaced into. If there is some other way, i am open to all ideas and suggestions.

Thanks..

(btw, I am not well versed in excel, so I will need some instructions on setting up macro's etc if that is required).

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Question Stats

Zone: Software

Question Asked By: thyros

Solution Provided By: csoussan

Participating Experts: 3

Solution Grade: A

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02.13.2008 at 06:39PM PST, ID: 20890497

csoussan:

I suggest you use a vlookup table instead of a search and replace. A vlookup searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value in the same row from another column in the table. In your example, you would list camera, camera accessories and all others categories that you wanted changed in the first column of your lookup table and in the second column you would list the replacment text (Photography: Digital Cameras, Digital Cameras Accessories, etc. You need to make sure the original text string and the replacment text string are in the same row of your lookup table. You will also need the =ISNA function so that it would leave the category text string unchanged when it does not find a matching value in the lookup table. I've attached a sample spreadsheet. - Sheet1 represents one of your excel / csv files and Sheet2 contains a sample lookup table. The following Microsoft info should also be of assistance. Good luck!

VLOOKUP: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP052093351033.aspx?pid=CH062528281033
How to Use VLOOKUP or HLOOKUP to find an exact match: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/181213

02.13.2008 at 06:41PM PST, ID: 20890506

csoussan:

Oops - here's the sample spreadsheet I mentioned above.

ReplaceText.xls (15 KB) (File Type Details)

Sample VLOOKUP Table

Accepted Solution

02.14.2008 at 04:08AM PST, ID: 20892614

Rank: Genius

GrahamSkan:

The secret is to take the whole text from each whole cell.
That is set by the LookAt parameter in this macro

         
           
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             Sub FindAndReplace()
Dim rng As Range
Dim strText As String
Dim strReplaceText  As String
 
strText = "camera"
strReplaceText = "Phography:Digital Cameras"
Set rng = ActiveWorkbook.Names("categories").RefersToRange
    rng.Replace What:=strText, Replacement:=strReplaceText, LookAt:=xlWhole, _
        SearchOrder:=xlByRows, MatchCase:=True, SearchFormat:=False, _
        ReplaceFormat:=False
        
strText = "camera accessories"
strReplaceText = "Phography:Digital Camera Accessories"
Set rng = ActiveWorkbook.Names("categories").RefersToRange
    rng.Replace What:=strText, Replacement:=strReplaceText, LookAt:=xlWhole, _
        SearchOrder:=xlByRows, MatchCase:=True, SearchFormat:=False, _
        ReplaceFormat:=False
End Sub
           
         

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Assisted Solution

02.23.2008 at 01:45PM PST, ID: 20966904

csoussan:

Hi thyros,

Any update on your issue?

03.24.2008 at 12:31AM PDT, ID: 21192305

Rank: Genius

roos01:

No comment has been added to this question in more than 21 days, so it is now classified as abandoned.

I will leave the following recommendation for this question in the Cleanup topic area:
Split: csoussan {http:#20890506} & GrahamSkan {http:#20892614}

Any objections should be posted here in the next 4 days. After that time, the question will be closed.

Roos01
EE Cleanup Volunteer

Computer101

03.28.2008 at 07:42PM PDT, ID: 21235271

Forced accept.

Computer101
EE Admin

thyros

04.16.2008 at 11:41AM PDT, ID: 21370720

Hi,

I am very sorry for not having returned to close this question.. I had alot of things going on at one time and I had been meaning to get to it. The first solution works and I have tested it. The second solution probably works also but I didn't know how to make a macro to test it.

It was a helpful solution, thanks for your time and help, and once again sorry for the delay. Peace.

20080236-EE-VQP-29 / EE_QW_2_20070628