Replace Options
Click on the graphic below for help on the options categories or scroll the screen down for a text description of the Replace options fields.
Details on Replace Options Fields:
Backup File Path: Enter a backup path to use if you want Search and Replace to backup the originals of any files changed during a replace operation. You may use the Browse button (
) to select a path via a Select Path dialog. If Search Subdirectories is turned on, the directory tree of the original path is created as necessary during the Replace operation.
Write Files to Backup Path: Check this box to write the files changed during a replace operation to the Backup Directory specified above. This will leave the original file(s) in the search path unchanged. If Search Subdirectories is checked, the directory tree of the search path is created as necessary under the path specified in Backup Directory. Note that if you check this, you need to remember that the newer, replaced versions of your file(s) will be in the Backup Directory. Search & Replace provides a reminder message when “Write Files to Backup Path” is checked.
Replace Prompts Group:
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Select “Prompt On All” for prompts on every string to be replaced in every file.
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Select “Prompt on Each File” for prompts for the total number of occurrences in each file. The Replacement Confirmation dialog is not presented for option.
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Select “No Prompts” for no prompts whatsoever for all replaces. Note that If you use this option, you may not realize the exact context of every string you replace or which files you replace them in until after the operation is finished.
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Note: If you are using an Advanced Script operation, read over the help section on Replacement Prompts for details about the behavior of replacement prompts and Advanced Scripts.
Replace Processing Group: Use this set of mutually exclusive radio choices to apply (or not) Special Case Handling during replacements. Please see Special Case Handling for more information and examples.
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None: Standard mode. No special letter case changes made.
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Capitalize All Words: The program capitalizes ‘words’ while making the replacement. For example, if the search string is coffee or tea and the replace string is bitter or sweet, the replace would be Bitter Or Sweet. This can be used with regular expression mode.
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Match Capitalization: If the letter case of the existing text found is consistent within “words” the program will match the overall capitalization of the search hit and apply that while making the replace. For most searches this means if the first two alphabetic characters of the first ‘word’ is lower case, the replace will be lower case and visa versa. If the 1st is capital and the 2nd is lower, the replace case is 1st letter cap, remainder lower. If the search and replace strings differ in length, the pattern detected in the search will be continued forward replace string. This can be used with regular expression mode.
Do Not Change File Date/Time: When enabled, Search & Replace preserves the original time & date stamp of files when replacements are made.
OK button: Saves the changes and closes the dialog.
Cancel button: The changes will not be made.