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[Solved] Search for whole words in a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 5:31 am
by Canna W
Hi,

I would be most grateful for some help.

I wondered if when doing a search of a document there was a way you could stipulate that you only want searches of whole words - eg ACT, rather than enact/actually/activate.....

 Edit: Changed subject, was Searching a document 
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Re: Searching a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 5:40 am
by FJCC
In Writer, the Find & Replace dialog (menu Edit -> Find & replace) has a Whole Words Only check box.

Re: Searching a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 5:49 am
by Canna W
FJCC - Fantastic! Thank you so much....

Re: [Solved] Searching a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 11:37 am
by LastUnicorn
You could try out Alternative Find & Replace for Writer (AltSearch) Some instructions and detailed notes here: Macro AltSearch

It can be complex (if that is what you want) but I only use basic functionality and find it a bit easier to use and more versatile than the built-in offering.

Re: [Solved] Searching a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 11:47 am
by Canna W
Last Unicorn - thank you for that suggestion. I will go with the inbuilt search facility & see how I get on with that. If I have issues I will try your link. Thanks again!

Re: [Solved] Searching a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 11:52 am
by RoryOF
In my experience, the inbuilt Search facility (/Edit /Find and Replace) is much easier to use than the AltReplace facility pointed to by LastUnicorn. Also it is very much faster.

To achieve a particular result, it may be necessary to use several simple F&R passes, but overall, these could well be faster than sorting out the syntax for AltReplace.

Re: [Solved] Searching a document

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 11:54 am
by Canna W
Rory - thank you for your input too. I'm a small brained critter, and like to use the simpler solution...