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Find and replace in multiple Word documents

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  • 18-10-2018 4:24pm
    #1
    RHJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 925 ✭✭✭


    Hi everyone :-)

    I've been recently given the task of updating multiple Word documents by finding and replacing certain text so far, I've built 2 macros, which has greatly speeded up things, but still, it's taking a long time due to the amount of files that have to be updated. Is there a free utility or perhaps someone here has a script that can perform a find and replace across multiple Word documents.


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    #2
    heffsarmy
    Registered Users Posts: 911 ✭✭✭heffsarmy


    A simple python script would do the job or drag them into a linux environment and use command line, e.g. sed -i 's/oldword/newword/g' file.doc. You could install cygwin on windows and run the bash commands against the doc files.

    to find all the files in current directory

    find . -name "*.doc" -exec sed -i 's/oldword/newword/g' {} \;


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    #3
    brianwalshcork
    Registered Users Posts: 607 ✭✭✭brianwalshcork


    Will send work on a docx where the content of the file is compressed and not plain text?


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    #4
    bloodless_coup
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,480 ✭✭✭bloodless_coup


    heffsarmy wrote: »
    A simple python script would do the job or drag them into a linux environment and use command line, e.g. sed -i 's/oldword/newword/g' file.doc. You could install cygwin on windows and run the bash commands against the doc files.

    I doubt it's that simple seeing as word docs are not plain text.


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    #5
    heffsarmy
    Registered Users Posts: 911 ✭✭✭heffsarmy


    doylefe wrote: »
    I doubt it's that simple seeing as word docs are not plain text.

    True actually, a quick google and you will find ways.

    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34779724/python-docx-replace-string-in-paragraph-while-keeping-style


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    #6
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,649 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    RHJ wrote: »
    Hi everyone :-)

    I've been recently given the task of updating multiple Word documents by finding and replacing certain text so far, I've built 2 macros, which has greatly speeded up things, but still, it's taking a long time due to the amount of files that have to be updated. Is there a free utility or perhaps someone here has a script that can perform a find and replace across multiple Word documents.

    You might need to rewrite the macro to perform better. They shouldn't generally be slow unless you are using selections instead of object ranges. If you record your actions and just modify it you may be using too many selects.

    If you want a hand pm me.


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