[Solved] Search for text and then set its character style

Discuss the word processor
Post Reply
jmucchiello
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2020 10:32 pm

[Solved] Search for text and then set its character style

Post by jmucchiello »

Why is it you can search for text and replace it (with the same text) and change the format but you cannot change the character style of that text? Is there something I'm missing here?
Last edited by Hagar Delest on Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: tagged solved.
Win 10 Home 1090
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.7
AOO417m1(Build:9800) - Rev. 46059c9192
2019-09-03 12:04
JeJe
Volunteer
Posts: 2764
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2016 2:40 pm

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by JeJe »

Not implemented by the developers but try this extension to do this:

https://extensions.openoffice.org/en/pr ... -altsearch

Edit:
You can set the character style by using find/replace to select what you want - then click on the style name in the sidebar styles and formatting list to apply the character style.
Windows 10, Openoffice 4.1.11, LibreOffice 7.4.0.3 (x64)
User avatar
Villeroy
Volunteer
Posts: 31269
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:35 am
Location: Germany

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by Villeroy »

Button [Find All]] selects all matches. Then double-click the character style.
Please, edit this topic's initial post and add "[Solved]" to the subject line if your problem has been solved.
Ubuntu 18.04 with LibreOffice 6.0, latest OpenOffice and LibreOffice
User avatar
robleyd
Moderator
Posts: 5055
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:47 am
Location: Murbko, Australia

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by robleyd »

Use Search with Find All to find all instances of the text to which you want to apply a style; the search will highlight the found text. Then open the Style dialog and double click on the required style to apply it to the selected text.
Cheers
David
OS - Slackware 15 64 bit
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15
LibreOffice 24.2.1.2; SlackBuild for 24.2.1 by Eric Hameleers
John_Ha
Volunteer
Posts: 9583
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:51 pm
Location: UK

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by John_Ha »

You will find much useful information in the Writer FAQ, the Writer Tutorials, the up to date AOO Writer for Students and the Writer User Guide. May I suggest you bookmark the pages.

Find and replace specific formatting and Find and replace paragraph styles are on page 67 of the Writer Guide.

Press F1 to access the Help screen and search for your problem

The chapter headings in the manual are:

1 - Introducing Writer
2 - Setting up Writer
3 - Working with Text
4 - Formatting Pages
5 - Printing, Exporting, Faxing and E-Mailing
6 - Introduction to Styles
7 - Working with Styles
8 - Working with Graphics
9 - Working with Tables
10 - Working with Templates
11 - Using Mail Merge
12 - Tables of Contents, Indexes and Bibliographies
13 - Working with Master Documents
14 - Working with Fields
15 - Using Forms in Writer
16 - Customizing Writer – Keyboard shortcuts.

When a pop-up window opens, click the Help button for extensive help on that function - it is often more comprehensive than the manual.
LO 6.4.4.2, Windows 10 Home 64 bit

See the Writer Guide, the Writer FAQ, the Writer Tutorials and Writer for students.

Remember: Always save your Writer files as .odt files. - see here for the many reasons why.
User avatar
Villeroy
Volunteer
Posts: 31269
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:35 am
Location: Germany

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by Villeroy »

We forgot to mention that direct formatting overrides styles. Format>Default Formatting (or Clear direct formatting in LO) removes all direct formatting from the current selection.
Please, edit this topic's initial post and add "[Solved]" to the subject line if your problem has been solved.
Ubuntu 18.04 with LibreOffice 6.0, latest OpenOffice and LibreOffice
jmucchiello
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2020 10:32 pm

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by jmucchiello »

John_Ha wrote:Find and replace specific formatting and Find and replace paragraph styles are on page 67 of the Writer Guide.
Neither of which are finding text and replacing the CHARACTER styles. So thanks for the canned response. The guides look nice. But I had a specific question. I've been using word processors for over 30 years and applying styles is old hat.
Win 10 Home 1090
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.7
AOO417m1(Build:9800) - Rev. 46059c9192
2019-09-03 12:04
User avatar
Villeroy
Volunteer
Posts: 31269
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:35 am
Location: Germany

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by Villeroy »

jmucchiello wrote: I've been using word processors for over 30 years and applying styles is old hat.
This one has a stylist window with different sections for paragraph styles, character styles, page styles etc.
Hit F5 for the stylist or use the one in the side bar.
Choose the character styles and double-click the one you want to apply to any selection of multiple text snippets.
And hit Ctrl+M to remove direct formatting.
Please, edit this topic's initial post and add "[Solved]" to the subject line if your problem has been solved.
Ubuntu 18.04 with LibreOffice 6.0, latest OpenOffice and LibreOffice
User avatar
Hagar Delest
Moderator
Posts: 32627
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: France

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by Hagar Delest »

jmucchiello, can you describe what steps you follow not being able to apply the character style once the searched strings have been highlighted?
LibreOffice 7.6.2.1 on Xubuntu 23.10 and 7.6.4.1 portable on Windows 10
jmucchiello
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2020 10:32 pm

Re: How do I search for text and then set its character styl

Post by jmucchiello »

Villeroy wrote:This one has a stylist window with different sections for paragraph styles, character styles, page styles etc.
Hit F5 for the stylist or use the one in the side bar.
Choose the character styles and double-click the one you want to apply to any selection of multiple text snippets.
I know. I've also been using OpenOffice for over 13 years according to the file date on older .odt file. This is the first time I've needed to dot his specific thing.

Very helpful but I already installed the suggested plugin and did the find/replace. And I'm amazed at the community's gung ho help the new users attitude. Keep it up.
Hagar Delest wrote:jmucchiello, can you describe what steps you follow not being able to apply the character style once the searched strings have been highlighted?
I downloaded the plugin. Your help was amazingly quick but not quick enough.

Way back when I used MS Word, you would use search/replace to apply character styles. It didn't occur to me to use "find all" and then apply a style.
Win 10 Home 1090
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.7
AOO417m1(Build:9800) - Rev. 46059c9192
2019-09-03 12:04
Post Reply