Find&Replace on a lot of *.doc' s via an excel macro?

[Martyn]

Need an excel macro code, that when executed will open a spesific folder
(full of *.doc files) accept a search string and a replacement from the
keyboard, search all of the documents for that string and if find it in
anywere on any of them files, replaces all, saves the changed *.docs. Is
there such a thing?
TIA

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

If you write it.

You can get the code to do a replace in word by going to word, turning on
the macro recorder and performing the function manually. As far as creating
code to work with word, you can do that with automation. The automation
help file has examples of starting and manipulating word from another
application:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=253338
INFO: Office Developer Samples and Tools Available for Download

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=260410
OFF2000: Microsoft Office 2000 Automation Help File Available



http://support.microsoft.com/?id=167223
Microsoft Office 97 Automation Help File Available on MSL

 

[Martyn]

Hi Tom,
I've recorded a macro as you've suggested from word. Here it is down below.
Two things about this macro which I couldn't figure out how to cope with:
After the replacements I need to save this document with its original
(previous) document name. But MSWord didn't give me the option while I was
working with the macro. So I had to give it a "new" name and save it. This
is why it was named "example_1.doc" before saving. Was it possible to give
it its previous name (overwriting) ?
Secondly. Although after creating the macro I assigned it to the Document1
file (and not to the original normal.dot of MSWord) now when I open a new
blank document to work on something else it contains some elements in the VB
editor modules (beleive that they are left overs from my previous
work)...How can I get rid of that?. I'd be very happy if you can comment.
Thanks for your previous help again. And here goes my macro
_______________________________________
Sub Macro1()
'
' Macro1 Macro
' Macro recorded 08.06.2004 by Martyn
'
Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting
With Selection.Find
.Text = "martyn"
.Replacement.Text = "wmartyn"
.Forward = True
.Wrap = wdFindContinue
.Format = False
.MatchCase = False
.MatchWholeWord = False
.MatchWildcards = False
.MatchSoundsLike = False
.MatchAllWordForms = False
End With
Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:="example_1.doc", FileFormat:= _
wdFormatDocument, LockComments:=False, Password:="",
AddToRecentFiles:= _
True, WritePassword:="", ReadOnlyRecommended:=False,
EmbedTrueTypeFonts:= _
False, SaveNativePictureFormat:=False, SaveFormsData:=False, _
SaveAsAOCELetter:=False
End Sub
__________________________________________________________

 

[Ed]

Martyn:

Don't use SaveAs. Use
ActiveDocument..Close SaveChanges:=wdSaveChanges

Ed

 

[Martyn]

Thanks Ed, I'll try that.

Martyn:

Don't use SaveAs. Use
ActiveDocument..Close SaveChanges:=wdSaveChanges

Ed

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

Instead of using
Activedocument.SaveAs, use Activedocument.Save

The ActiveDocument.Save requires no arguments.

I am not sure why you saved the recorded macro in word at all. I thought
you wanted to do this from Excel. You should have recorded the macro, then
copied it an pasted into notepad or into an Excel module, then closed the
document in word without saving or deleted the macro. So to get rid of the
elements, I guess you should go to the module, do Ctrl+A, then delete. Then
save the document. If they are in a general module, then you can delete the
module in the VBE using the project explorer.

I am not a big Word users, so if you need help working in word, you might
want to use the word newsgroups for better answers.

 

[Martyn]

Thank you very much Tom...
You were most helpful.
Cheers
Martyn

 

[Martyn]

Thanks for the suppot Tom.

Instead of using
Activedocument.SaveAs, use Activedocument.Save

The ActiveDocument.Save requires no arguments.

I am not sure why you saved the recorded macro in word at all. I thought
you wanted to do this from Excel. You should have recorded the macro, then
copied it an pasted into notepad or into an Excel module, then closed the
document in word without saving or deleted the macro. So to get rid of the
elements, I guess you should go to the module, do Ctrl+A, then delete. Then
save the document. If they are in a general module, then you can delete the
module in the VBE using the project explorer.

I am not a big Word users, so if you need help working in word, you might
want to use the word newsgroups for better answers.