Copy to find-and-replace without numbering

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Craig - 22 Jul 2006 23:09 GMT

When I select text from any kind of numbered list and paste it into either
the "find what" or "replace with" fiields, it brings the numbering along with
it; this is happening with "bulleted", "numbered", and "outline numberd"
lists. This behavior only occurs when the very first character in the line
(after the numbering) is included in the copy; inclusion of the paragraph
mark at the end of the line makes no difference one way or the other - only
the inclusion of the first character in the line triggers this behavior.

I use outline-numbered lists extensively in my work, and I have to find and
replace phrases, etc., many times a day. This behavior requires to me to
always delete the numbering portion of the text (in the find/replace dialog)
before continuing with my task. It's driving me absolutely wild!

Please, please ... how do I make it stop?

Craig @ Hewlett-Packard

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John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh] - 23 Jul 2006 02:04 GMT

Hi Craig:

{Chortle} You can't make that one stop! You're being hit by a kludge to a
work-around caused by the fact that someone complained that when they
copy/pasted, they *didn't* get the numbers.

When you copy, Word sets a hidden bookmark to define the range you selected,
since it doesn't yet know what format you will paste in. When you paste,
Word identifies the format of the destination, calls the text converter
appropriate to the destination format, and hands it the reference from the
clipboard. The clipboard reference resolves to a text range. Word then
inspects the outer container to see if there was a list format: if there
was, it retrieves that too, converts the whole string and injects it at the
destination.

The macro to defeat this behaviour is extremely complex! Which means there
will always be instances where it "doesn't work".

If you have strong VBA skills, let me know and I will send you a foundation
macro that you can play with to get it doing what you want. If you don't
understand VBA string processing, forget it: it will take you too long
fiddling around to be worth it.

Cheers

On 23/7/06 8:09 AM, in article
63A9D1B2-A0BA-457E-BF57-25ED7C82D3BF@microsoft.com, "Craig"

> When I select text from any kind of numbered list and paste it into either
> the "find what" or "replace with" fiields, it brings the numbering along with
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Craig @ Hewlett-Packard

Signature

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <john@mcghie.name>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

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Craig - 23 Jul 2006 03:59 GMT

Hi John,
{Groan} Thanks for a very complete answer to my question. Not the answer I
wanted to hear, of course, but at least I know where I stand now. My VBA
skills are nowhere near what is needed to code for this, so you don't need to
send me the macro - thanks for offering, though.

Thanks much,
Craig

======================================
"John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macinto" wrote:

> Hi Craig:
>
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
> >
> > Craig @ Hewlett-Packard

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Shauna Kelly - 23 Jul 2006 13:24 GMT

Hi Craig

I share your frustration! Your post has prompted me to finish off some notes
I started a while ago. The code on this page may alleviate the frustration:

How to get Word to automatically fill the Edit > Find and Edit > Replace
boxes with the selected text
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/defaulteditfind/

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word

> Hi John,
> {Groan} Thanks for a very complete answer to my question. Not the answer
[quoted text clipped - 70 lines]
>> >
>> > Craig @ Hewlett-Packard

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John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh] - 24 Jul 2006 09:48 GMT

Hi Craig:

Don't you love the way Shauna proves that I was wrong without actually
*saying* so? Young lady, you have a career in the Diplomatic Service ahead
of you...

Craig: Shauna's macro is very simple: you could use that one easily.

Shauna: I could have sworn that last time I tried that, I got the numbering
as well. I've obviously had a brain-fade...

Cheers

On 23/7/06 10:24 PM, in article #P4T2MlrGHA.1796@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl,

> Hi Craig
>
[quoted text clipped - 84 lines]
>>>>
>>>> Craig @ Hewlett-Packard

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