Finding and replacing data

You can find and replace data across multiple fields (including related fields) in a record or in a find request, across a found set of records or find requests, or across text objects in a layout.

To find and replace data:

  1. In Browse, Find, or Layout mode, choose Edit menu > Find/Replace > Find/Replace.

  2. In the Find what box, type the data to search for. In the Replace with box, type the replacement data.

    Tip  To find or replace invisible characters, such as tabs or carriage returns, manually copy and paste these characters from a field into the Find what or Replace with box.

  3. Set search options.

    4. Select

    To

    Match whole words only

    Search for only those occurrences that are whole words or are bounded by spaces and/or punctuation characters.

    Examples

    good finds good and good within good-bye

    travel finds travel and travel within travel.com but .com does not find travel.com

    stone house[space] finds stone house in the sentence "The old stone house[space][space]has a large garden," but does not find stone house in the sentence "The old stone house[space]has a large garden."

    An option in Search across

    In Browse mode, search across all records in the current layout or just in the current record.

    In Find mode, search across all find requests in the current layout or just in the current find request.

    Note  In Layout mode, FileMaker Pro searches only in the current layout.

  4. Click one of the buttons to perform the type of find/replace operation you want.

Notes 

  • In files that contain Japanese data, a find with the Match case option cleared does not simultaneously find both the half-width and full-width version of the same character. To comprehensively find and replace both characters, perform separate finds for both the half-width and full-width character.

  • In the Find what box, you can't use the find operators that you can use in find requests. If you need to use find operators, make a find request, then when you have the found set of records you want to change, use the Replace Field Contents dialog. See Making a find request and Replacing the contents of a field.

  • You cannot search for information in web viewers.

  • You cannot find data in fields that you are not permitted to view, or replace data in fields that you are not permitted to modify.

  • You cannot find and replace data in fields that are formatted as pop-up menus, radio buttons, or checkboxes. (To work around this limitation, find and replace data on a layout that includes these fields formatted as edit boxes or drop-down lists.)

  • If the current layout contains panel controls:

    • In Browse and Find modes, the find and replace affects only data in fields on the frontmost panel.

    • In Layout mode, the find and replace affects text on all panels.