XL: Replacing Text in Cell Notes

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Widnows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel does not have a menu command to perform global search and replace operations on cell notes. Choosing Replace from the Formula menu only searches cell contents, not cell notes. The following macro examples demonstrate how to search for and replace information in cell notes.

MORE INFORMATION

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

1. Enter the following in a module sheet:

         Sub ReplaceCellNotes()
            ' Ask for original string.
            oldstr = InputBox("replace what?")
   
            ' Ask for new string.
            newstr = InputBox("replace with?")
   
            ' If the two numbers are not exactly the same, go into loop.
            If oldstr <> newstr Then
   
               ' For every cell in the selection.
               For Each c In Selection
   
                  ' Find the starting location of the string in the note.
                  location = InStr(1, c.NoteText, oldstr, 1)
   
                  ' If the string has been found, begin the check.
                  If location > 0 Then
   
                     ' Get the section of the note before the found string.
                     begpiece = Left(c.NoteText, location - 1)
   
                     ' Separate out the actual search string.
                     foundpiece = Mid(c.NoteText, location, Len(oldstr))
   
                     ' Get the section of the note after the found string.
                     endpiece = Right(c.NoteText, Len(c.NoteText) _
                        - (location + Len(oldstr) - 1))
   
                     ' Rebuild the note with the first piece, the new
                     ' string, and the last old piece.
                     c.NoteText Text:=begpiece & newstr & endpiece
   
                  End If
   
               ' Next cell.
               Next c
   
            End If
         End Sub
   
   

2. Select the range of cells on your worksheet that contain the cell notes that you wish to replace.

3. Run the ReplaceCellNotes subroutine.