Search an Active Document Incrementally

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

You can search a single document or window incrementally by entering text. The search operation highlights the first set of characters that matches the characters entered during the incremental search in the document or window. Incremental search automatically searches all of the text within a document or window except for text that has been hidden.

For the Match case option, incremental search uses the criteria from your previous search. For example, if you searched across multiple files using the Find in Files dialog box and select Match Case, and you next search incrementally, the search will be case-sensitive.

To search incrementally

1. Open the file or window to you want to search.

2. On the Edit menu, point to Advanced, and then click Incremental Search.

   The cursor icon changes to a binocular with an arrow, indicating the search direction, and the status bar displays "Incremental Search."

3. Begin typing the text string.

   The status bar displays the text you are entering while the editor highlights the first occurrence that matches the text. As you continue typing, the editor moves to the next match and highlights it. If no matches are available, the status bar displays the following.

   Incremental Search: <text> (not found)  
   

Incremental searches are performed from the current location in the document downwards from left to right. Incremental searches can be done using keyboard shortcut keys.

Note

For a complete list of keyboard shortcut keys, see SQL Server Management Studio Keyboard Shortcuts.

See Also

Search and Replace
Search Documents Interactively
Search Documents Using Results Lists
Search Text with Regular Expressions