REPLACE PROBLEM IN EXCEL

Question

I am wondering why I am having so much trouble with the replacement boxes, often not being able to just drag the cursor over part of the contents nor click, instead having to backspace.

For example if I have a record that has both the common and scientific names, and I want to replace those with just the common names with both, I proceed as follows. I copy the record eg. Canis familiaris DOMESTIC DOG into both the 'find what' and 'replace with' boxes. Sometimes I can then just go to the 'find what' box and click and drag over DOMESTIC DOG, and delete those words. I then select the records lacking the scientific name and replace all, so then they have both names.

but frequently, I can't drag over the letters in the box, and sometimes I can't click at any point other than the end, so I have to backspace through all the letters. This is extremely annoying and time consuming when doing hundreds of such records, and is not making sense why.

Actually when it works normally, It is already at the end and I just click to the end of the scientific name and then the common name is highlighted and deleted, MUCH faster, but why it sometimes won't let me click anywhere else is strange.

Answer 1

Hi,

I haven't had this problem but here are a couple of shortcut keys that may help:

Canis familiaris DOMESTIC DOG

1. You can double-click to select a word
2. If your cursor is at the beginning (before the C in Canis above) you can press Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow to select a word at a time to the right of the cursor or Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow to select a word at a time to the left.
3. If your cursor is at the end (or anywhere in the text, you can press Home to move to the beginning of the text box or End to move to the end of the text box.
4. Ctrl+Right Arrow moves you one word at a time to the right, and Ctrl+Left Arrow moves you one word at a time to the left.
5. Ctrl+Delete deletes everything to the right of the cursor.
6. You can select from one point to another with Shift+Click. For example if the cursor is after the s in famiiaris then shift clicking on the C in Canis will select the two words between those end points.

Answer 2

Dear Robirdman1,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

As per your description, it seems that you are having issue with Replace in Excel, often not being able to just drag the cursor over part of the contents nor click, instead having to backspace.

If the understanding above is right, we'd like to confirm if you are using Excel desktop app? If yes, to help you better, we would like to collect more detailed information you're experiencing so that we can have a further investigation:

1. Would you please share some screenshots of "drag over DOMESTIC DOG, and delete those words" and "can't click at any point other than the end" for a better understanding?
2. Does this happen to all files or the specific file?
3. Will the same issue occur if you use Excel web app to open the file in browser?
4. Will the same issue occur if you create a new profile in the device to test? For your reference: Create a local user or administrator account in Windows (microsoft.com)
5. Please also share a screenshot of the Excel version as shown below by opening Excel app > File > Account

Meanwhile, please check if open Excel in safe mode or Online repair office can help.

For your reference: Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC - Microsoft Support

Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support

Welcome to post back when you have any update, if the understanding above is not consistent with yours, please also feel free to post back and point that.

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. We hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely，

Rhoda | Microsoft Community Moderator