Working with Find and Replace

The Find and Replace View, enabled from the View tab, allows you to search, display results, and replace existing text, string, and property values. This is useful for making changes to multiple graphics that share related information, for example, changing substitutions and data point references in the Sample Graphics folder.

A common scenario for using Find and Replace is if a device name changes, the path the graphic is then invalid, and the graphic cannot display current values. Using Find and Replace, you can search for the old path and then replace it with the current device and path.

Select the topic related to your task:

Display Find and Replace Results

  • You have conducted a search and have one or more results displayed in the Find Results section of the Find and Replace view.
  • To view an item from the results list, double-click the appropriate row.
  • The following occurs for each item selected:
  • If the graphic is not already opened, the graphic opens in the Graphic Editor
  • The associated element becomes active on the canvas, in the Element Tree, and in the Property View or the Evaluation Editor, if it is a condition or expression.

 

Display Find and Replace View

  • You want to display the Find and Replace View.
  • From the View > Display Views group, click the Find and Replace check box.
  • The Find and Replace vView displays.

 

Find and Replace Text, Values, and Paths in Graphics

  • You have entered the text, string, path, or value to search for in the Find what field of the Find and Replace View and you want to enter the replacement information in the Replace with field.
  1. With the cursor in the Replace with field, do one of the following:
  • To replace text, type the text you want to use for the replacer, and click anywhere outside the field when you are done.
  • To search for properties and values, click the expander icon on the right to display the Property Toolbox fields, select a property from the drop-down menu, and enter a value (number, text, color) for the property. Click Insert to add the selections to the Replace with field.
  1. At this point, you can do one of the following:
  • To replace all items in the Find Result list, click Replace All. All items in the Find Result list are replaced.
  • To replace specific items in the Find Result list, with the mouse, select one or more items in the Find Result list and click Replace. The selected items are replaced.
  • To replace item by item, click Find Next until the item you want to replace is selected. Click Replace. The item is replaced and automatically goes to the next item in the list. Continue with either Find Next or Replace to go through all items.
  1. In the Search Options section, make the appropriate selections to further filter your search.
  • The matches to your search and filter are automatically updated in the Find Results section and the matching text is highlighted.
  1. In the Look In section, select which graphics and fields should be searched the text.
  • If you select Current Document or All Open Documents, the results are automatically updated in the Find Results window.
  • If you select Entire Project, the Find Results Controls section displays and a status bar indicates the search is active.
  • The Find Results section is updated and you can now work with results.

 

Use the Find and Replace View

  • The Find and Replace View is displayed, and you want to conduct a search for specific text, values, or properties.
  1. With the cursor in the Find what field, do one of the following:
  • To search for text, type the text you want to search for, and when you are done, click anywhere outside the field.
  • To search for properties and values, click Expander to display the Property Toolbox fields, select a property from the drop-down menu, and enter a value (number, text, color) for the property. Click Insert to add the selections to the Find what field.
  • Any matches found automatically display in the Find Results section. By default, the search is conducted in the current active graphic.
  1. In the Search Options section, make the appropriate selections to further filter your search. As you make your choices, the matches to your search and filter are automatically updated in the Find Results section and the matching text is now highlighted.
    NOTE: If you selected Entire Project, the search automatic update is not conducted.
  1. In the Filter section, you can narrow your search:
  • If you select Current Document or All Open Documents, the results are automatically updated in the Find Results window.
  • If you select Entire Project, the Find Results Controls section displays and a status bar indicates the search is active.
  • The Find Results section is updated and you can now work with the results.

 

Related Topics

For background information, see Find and Replace.

For workspace overview, see Find and Replace View.

For keyboard shortcuts, see Find and Replace View Shortcuts.