Multiple "replace all" across 5 folders

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm not very computer literate so bear with me.

I've got approx 150 word docs (all only 2 or 3 pages long) across 4 folders.

As an example, I've now been told that each APPLE I have in these docs, must now be written as Apple.

Is there a way I can do a "replace all" on each APPLE to become Apple - or do I need to manually open every 150 docs and do a cut and paste?

Thank you all so much in advance (please tell me it's possible or I'm going to be sitting here in front of my computer until dawn :)

Cheers,

amanda

Answer 1

Hans has given you a macro.

• Instructions for Installing Macros from Forums or Websites by Graham Mayor, MVP

Here are two free Add-Ins that can do this from the user interface. Both act on one folder at a time.

• Batch Folder Process Add-In by Greg Maxey
• Document Batch Processes by Graham Mayor, MVP

Answer 2

Start Word so that you have a new empty document.

Press Alt+F11 to activate the Visual Basic Editor.

Select Insert > Module.

Copy the code listed below into the module.

Edit the code as indicated - you need to specify the words to be found and replaced, and the folder paths.

With the insertion point anywhere in the code, press F5 to run the code.

Switch back to Word.

If you want to keep the code for later use, save the empty document as a macro-enabled document (.docm).

You'll have to allow macros if you reopen it later.

Sub ReplaceMany()
    ' Change the constants as needed
    Const ReplaceWhat = "APPLE"
    Const ReplaceWith = "Apple"
    Dim Folders As Variant
    Dim Folder As Variant
    Dim File As String
    Dim Doc As Document
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    ' Change the paths to the folders containing your documents
    Folders = Array("C:\Word\Folder1", "C:\Word\Folder2", _
                    "C:\Word\Folder3", "C:\Word\Folder4")
    ' Loop through the folders
    For Each Folder In Folders
        ' Add path separator if necessary
        If Right(Folder, 1) <> Application.PathSeparator Then
            Folder = Folder & Application.PathSeparator
        End If
        ' Get first file name
        File = Dir(PathName:=Folder & "*.doc*")
        ' Loop through the files
        Do While File <> ""
            ' Open document
            Set Doc = Documents.Open(FileName:=Folder & File, AddToRecentFiles:=False)
            ' Replace text
            Doc.Content.Find.Execute FindText:=ReplaceWhat, MatchCase:=True, _
                MatchWholeWord:=True, ReplaceWith:=ReplaceWith, Replace:=wdReplaceAll
            ' Save and close document
            Doc.Close SaveChanges:=True
            ' Get the next file name
            File = Dir
        Loop
    Next Folder
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Answer 3

See, for example: https://www.msofficeforums.com/159681-post25.html. By running the 'Main' macro there, all files in a given folder and its sub-folders will be processed. The actual find/replace expressions go in the Update(Rng As Range) sub.