How to Find/Replace text in a specific range of pages?

Fantastic, thanks ​@Mike Witherell ​@Eugene Tyson  ​@rob day for your responses, all incredibly helpful. Was trying to avoid scripts as I’m preparing a document that a client will need to update in a similar fashion, and wanted to minimise the complexity for someone not familiar with InDesign. Looks like it’s unavoidable, no harm done. Thanks!

Mindful that this is really necessary functionality  … Can’t use any scripts/plugins either.

Hi ​@callum_6285 , You would need a script—is there a reason you can’t use one? 

Hey Eugene,

Yes, if the text is separate stories on pages 112-116, as the OP describes, then the person could insert a Type tool in the text on each of those 5 pages, choosing to search Story each time.

Your script idea sounds interesting! I will look for an opportunity to test it. I’m not sure why the OP states that they cannot use a script.

​@Mike Witherell fantastic idea when all the text frames are threaded and you can select from page to page, but InDesign doesn’t allow to split selection so you can’t select page 2, 12, 112 etc. 

This script is rudimentary but might work for you - I urge you to test it on a sample document. There  are much better scripters than me on here so maybe one will be happy to make it even better. 

But literally the best I can get right now 

 

// Global Script - No #target directive

var doc = app.documents.length ? app.activeDocument : null;
if (!doc) { alert("No document open."); exit(); }

// ------------------
// Build Dialog
// ------------------
var w = new Window("dialog", "Find / Change by Page Range");
w.orientation = "column"; w.alignChildren = "left";

w.add("statictext", undefined, "Page range (e.g., 1-5, 8, A-3):");
var pageInput = w.add("edittext", undefined, doc.pages[0].name + "-" + doc.pages[doc.pages.length - 1].name);
pageInput.characters = 25;

w.add("statictext", undefined, "Find what:");
var findInput = w.add("edittext", undefined, "");
findInput.characters = 30;

w.add("statictext", undefined, "Replace with:");
var changeInput = w.add("edittext", undefined, "");
changeInput.characters = 30;

var modeGroup = w.add("panel", undefined, "Search Type");
modeGroup.orientation = "row";
var textRadio = modeGroup.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Text");
var grepRadio = modeGroup.add("radiobutton", undefined, "GREP");
textRadio.value = true;

var optPanel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Options");
optPanel.orientation = "column"; optPanel.alignChildren = "left";
var caseCheck = optPanel.add("checkbox", undefined, "Case Sensitive");

var btnGroup = w.add("group");
btnGroup.add("button", undefined, "OK");
btnGroup.add("button", undefined, "Cancel");

if (w.show() !== 1) exit();

// ------------------
// Page Logic
// ------------------
var pagesToSearch = [];
var parts = pageInput.text.replace(/\s/g, "").split(",");
for (var i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) {
    var range = parts[i].split("-");
    var start = doc.pages.itemByName(range[0]);
    var end = doc.pages.itemByName(range.length > 1 ? range[1] : range[0]);
    if (start.isValid && end.isValid) {
        for (var p = start.documentOffset; p <= end.documentOffset; p++) pagesToSearch.push(doc.pages[p]);
    }
}

// ------------------
// Execute Search
// ------------------
var totalChanges = 0;
app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;
app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;

for (var k = 0; k < pagesToSearch.length; k++) {
    var frames = pagesToSearch[k].textFrames;
    for (var f = 0; f < frames.length; f++) {
        var story = frames[f].parentStory;

        if (textRadio.value) {
            // Literal Text replacement
            var match;
            app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = escapeGrep(findInput.text);
            var results = story.findGrep();

            // Loop backwards to keep index integrity
            for (var r = results.length - 1; r >= 0; r--) {
                // Check Case Sensitivity
                if (!caseCheck.value || results[r].contents === findInput.text) {
                    results[r].contents = changeInput.text;
                    totalChanges++;
                }
            }
        } else {
            // GREP replacement
            app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = caseCheck.value ? findInput.text : "(?i)" + findInput.text;
            app.changeGrepPreferences.changeTo = changeInput.text;
            totalChanges += story.changeGrep().length;
        }
    }
}

// Cleanup
app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;
app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;

alert("Done! Total changes: " + totalChanges);

function escapeGrep(str) {
    return str.replace(/[-\/\\^$*+?.()|[\]{}]/g, "\\$&");
}