When we need find and replace a word in a document specific that we have opened, the function to use relies on a keyboard shortcut that works practically in most text editors. It refers to "CTRL + F" or "CTRL + B", which depends on the application in which we are performing this task.
If our search is focused on a single document, we can use the traditional method or make use of the respective option that appears in the options menu of the respective tool. However, How about finding and replacing a word in several texts at the same time? That is what we will do in this article, mentioning a few alternatives that can help you with this task.
Why search for a word in several texts at the same time?
Suppose for a moment, that you have a large number of documents stored on your computer (for example, about 100) and in them you have placed your signature and now, you want to change it to a completely different name. Having to open each of these documents to carry out this modification is too extensive a task since You will not know exactly, which document has your signature and which does not. With the alternatives that we will mention below, you will have the possibility of knowing which documents are those that have a specific word and from there, you may have the opportunity to vary it for a different one.
Find and Replace (FAR)
A tool named «Find and Replace (FAR)»Can help us with this type of task because its interface is quite simple and easy to use. Previously, we must suggest that the tool It will recommend you to install Java Runtime in case you don't have it in Windows. Once you run it, you will see an image very similar to the one we will place below.
You just have to choose the directory where your documents are located, the type of file you want for your search as well as the name to search. At the top there are three tabs, which will help you "find, replace or rename", while on the right side will be the list of all those documents with the word that you have searched for in this location.
WildReplace
If you don't want to install the Java Runtime then maybe you should use «WildReplace»Well, this tool also has a very simple interface to work with.
All you have to do is put the type of format in the document, the word you want to search for and of course, the one with which you want to replace it in the results of your search. At the bottom of this interface, the folders where you can direct your search will be shown, while on the right side the results of the same will be present.
TurboSR
Although with a simpler and more minimalist interface, «TurboSR»Also fulfills its objective of finding and replacing a specific word with a different one.
Here there are only the essential fields to use, which refer to the type of document, the directory where you want to focus the search, the word to search and the word to replace. You can activate the box so that the search is made sensitive to words written with upper or lower case letters and also, that it is explored in the subfolders.
Replace Text
A somewhat more complex alternative and perhaps useful for a certain number of people is this tool, which has the name "Replace Text" and which works in a completely different way from the ones we have mentioned above.
Here different types of groups must be defined for search and replacement of both words and phrases, something that can be very useful if we are sure of what we want to modify in several documents at the same time.
We have only mentioned four alternatives that you can use to replace a word that is part of several documents, and it can be replaced by a completely different one if we wish. There are many more tools on the web with this type of objective, although they are paid and somewhat more complex in the way of using some of its functions.