Creating Word macro for searching&replacing strings? Thread poster: Cilian O'Tuama
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Hi All,
I've been asked for a quote on a huge Word file with zillions of strings of different lengths, which of course will not have to be translated. All are contained within square brackets ( [blabla...] ). The strings consist of letters, numbers and other symbols. There are so many of these strings that I can't include them in my word/line count.
Does anyone know how to create a Word macro (if possible in Word 97) that can replace all of these strings, irrespective o... See more Hi All,
I've been asked for a quote on a huge Word file with zillions of strings of different lengths, which of course will not have to be translated. All are contained within square brackets ( [blabla...] ). The strings consist of letters, numbers and other symbols. There are so many of these strings that I can't include them in my word/line count.
Does anyone know how to create a Word macro (if possible in Word 97) that can replace all of these strings, irrespective of length and content, in a single operation?
If this has been discussed before, a pointer in the right direction would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Cilian ▲ Collapse
| | | | Beatrice T 
Italy
Member (2010)
German to Italian
+ ...
| You can try with wildcards | Jun 6, 2003 |
Hi Cilian,
I hope I got the point
try this: (in any Word version, 95, 97, 2000)
Edit>
Find: \[*\]
Replace: what you want this string to be replaced with
Check the checkbox "Use wildcards"
If you like, you can register this operation as a macro, obviously.
Hope it is of any help.
Bye!
| | | | | Have you tried Search & Replace? | Jun 6, 2003 |
I always use the Search and Replace utility (www.funduc.com) for this kind of operation, including glossary lookups.
It has many useful features, including searching and replacing * strings (not possible in Word) with or without confirmation.
Good luck,
Jørgen
| | | | Klaus Herrmann
Germany
Local time: 06:36
Member (2002)
English to German
+ ...
Did you ever try UltraEdit ? It's the perfect tool for this purpose. You can download a 30-day trial version from www.ultraedit.com.
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Gerard de Noord
France
Local time: 06:36
Member (2003)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| A macro is not really necessary | Jun 6, 2003 |
Hi Cilian,
In this case you could simply replace \[*\] with nothing in a copy with the file. Use wildcards and think about removing double spaces, if necessary.
Regards,
Gerard
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 06:36
German to English
+ ...
| Searching/replacing strings | Jun 6, 2003 |
Hi Cilian,
If I've understood you correctly, all you want to do is delete all instances of [...] from the text, in order to be able to count the remaining text.
If that's the case, then simply check the "Use wildcards" option in the search & replace dialog and enter
backslash - open square bracket - asterisk - backslash - close square bracket (as you've probably realized by now, ProZ is playing havoc with our efforts to enter this literally)
a... See more Hi Cilian,
If I've understood you correctly, all you want to do is delete all instances of [...] from the text, in order to be able to count the remaining text.
If that's the case, then simply check the "Use wildcards" option in the search & replace dialog and enter
backslash - open square bracket - asterisk - backslash - close square bracket (as you've probably realized by now, ProZ is playing havoc with our efforts to enter this literally)
as the search term. Leave the replace field blank.
"*" represents "0 or more characters", and the backslash indicates that the brackets are to be interpreted literally, as they otherwise have a special function of their own. This works for Office 97.
Marc
[Edited at 2003-06-06 14:50] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Search and replace/special, with wildcards | Jun 6, 2003 |
Cilian O'Tuama wrote:
All are contained within square brackets ( [blabla...] ). The strings consist of letters, numbers and other symbols. There are so many of these strings that I can't include them in my word/line count.
Hi Cilian,
If it's for a one-off quote, I'd find it just as quick to use a few search-and-replace operations.
The symbol * stands for 'any string' in a wildcard search and replace. The problem is that your expressions are contained in square brackets, which Word Advanced search and replace otherwise uses for special purposes.
So, first I'd replace the all left and the right square brackets with something which does not occur elsewhere in the document (e.g. LEFTBRACKET for all the left ones and RIGHTBRACKET for all the right ones).
That's two operations.
Step 3: Search the string LEFTBRACKET*RIGHTBRACKET with More/'Wildcards' or 'Pattern matching' activated, and Replace with Format/Highlight or a particular text colour to make the non-translatable text stand out visually.
If you're using a translation tool, you replace the strings with the non-translatable style (telling the tool not to count them or present them for translation, which would obviate the need for step 4).
Step 4: search for the Highlight (text colour, style, whatever) and replace with nothing, i.e. delete it, so that you can count the remaining words. (Obviously this would all be done on a copy of the file...)
Also, don't forget to reinstate the brackets after translation!
All the best, Deborah
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Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 06:36
German to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Problem solved | Jun 6, 2003 |
Cheers Everyone - I followed Marc's edited (thanks) instructions and lo and behold...
I must admit I was confused - backslash, what backslash!
Another slight drawback was that I only have German versions of Word, and who could guess that 'with wildcard' = 'mit Mustervergleich'!?
Thanks again.
Cilian
| | | | Robert Zawadzki (X)
Local time: 06:36
English to Polish
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| For me \[*\] works | Jun 6, 2003 |
When wildcards are turned on, [ has a special meaning.
Gerard de Noord wrote:
Hi Cilian,
In this case you could simply replace with nothing in a copy with the file. Use wildcards and think about removing double spaces, if necessary.
Regards,
Gerard
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