Find Function behaving differently in different spreadsheets

[Anchor]

Excel 2003 - I have a number of spreadsheets that are set up in a similar
fashion and are used basically as databases. I use the Ctrl+F function alot
to search for the correct data. The problem I am having is the the Ctrl+F
function. Some of them I can do a search and will find the data with no
issues, while other spreadsheets I have to change "Look in:" to Values from
Formulas even though the spreadsheets are set up in the same fashion with the
same sort of data in each column. Why is this? And how do I fix it? Can I set
the Ctrl+F function to look in values as a default?

 

[JBeaucaire]

The FIND function is one of the odd ducks in Excel. It seems to have a
"memory" for the advanced parameters that were last used.

Even when using VBA to execute the FIND, any parameters you do not
specifically set will use the settings from the last time the search was
conducted.

This means that unless you set some macro to do a "default" FIND function
when you first open Excel, no telling what the settings are.

For me, I just always remember to set the advanced options.