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RobertNunemacher
Inspiring
June 16, 2022
Answered

Find and Replace Paragraph Styles

  • June 16, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 1693 views

I have a 2,134-page document and need to down-step all of the heading styles (Change all H1s to H2s, H2s to H3s, etc). I played with Find (Paragraph Tag) and Replace (By Pasting) but didn't get the results I was looking for. It replaced the style, but then pulled the paragraph below the heading into the same line as the heading. Is there and cleaner way to swap out paragraph styles? Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer RobertNunemacher

    After several failed attempts, I stumbled across the solution:

     

    1. Place the cursor in the paragraph with the style you want to copy.
    2. Select Edit > Copy Special > Paragraph Format.
    3. Open the Find/Change panel.
    4. Select Paragraph Tag: from the Find dropdown menu.
    5. Select By Pasting in the Change dropdown menu.
    6. Click Find, and then Change. If you get the results you are looking for, be brave and click Change All.

    3 replies

    R
    RobertNunemacherAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    June 17, 2022

    After several failed attempts, I stumbled across the solution:

     

    1. Place the cursor in the paragraph with the style you want to copy.
    2. Select Edit > Copy Special > Paragraph Format.
    3. Open the Find/Change panel.
    4. Select Paragraph Tag: from the Find dropdown menu.
    5. Select By Pasting in the Change dropdown menu.
    6. Click Find, and then Change. If you get the results you are looking for, be brave and click Change All.

      LinSims
      Community Expert
      LinSimsCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 16, 2022

      @Be.eM  means that you have to list them in reverse order so they're processed properly.

       

      If you have H1 through H3, and you need them changed to H2 through H4, it should be listed in this order in the FindChangeFormats file created to map your old to new tag names.

       

      H3 ⮕ H4

      H2 ⮕ H3

      H1 ⮕ H2

       

      Then add in your new H1.

       

      Also, can confirm that Rick's plugin is amazingly useful. 

        R
        RobertNunemacherAuthor
        Inspiring
        June 17, 2022

        Yes, of course. I started with the most subordinate heading style. FM is replacing the styles but at the same time, pulling the following paragraph into the heading. Not sure what is causing this behavior. See attached illustration.

          Be.eM
          Be.eM
          Inspiring
          June 17, 2022

          I guess this just caused by Heading4 being definied as a run-in Heading. Did you check the paragraph format?

          Edit: no, your question is not related to the plugin above, so my answer might be wrong.

          Bernd

            Be.eM
            Be.eM
            Inspiring
            June 16, 2022

            The "FindChangeFormatsBatch" plugin might be exactly what you're looking for. But there's a strategy (correct order of replacements) required for not having only one level of headings left in the end… 😉

              R
              RobertNunemacherAuthor
              Inspiring
              June 17, 2022

              Thank you, sir. Looks like you have some extremely helpful plugins. I'll bookmark your page for sure.

               

              Be.eM
              Be.eM
              Inspiring
              June 17, 2022

              Unfortunately, these aren't mine… I've just bought that plugin, too.

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