Skip to main content
S
susmur
Inspiring
December 12, 2009
Question

Find without Change (in particular without Change All)

  • December 12, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 891 views

I inadvertently used the Change All feature a couple of times. This happened when I was only searching for a string in my FM book, so the field with the replacement string was empty. Since undoing this operation is not possible, it had a lot of fun cleaning this up.

There should be a number of options to prevent this from happening:

  • Display a warning message when the user clicks Change All (or presses the corresponding key) - at least if there is no replacement text given
  • Allow this operation to be undone
  • Modify the Find dialog box so that Find and Change are separate features
This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

P
peter minneapolis
Participating Frequently
December 12, 2009

susmur wrote:

I inadvertently used the Change All feature a couple of times. This happened when I was only searching for a string in my FM book, so the field with the replacement string was empty. Since undoing this operation is not possible, it had a lot of fun cleaning this up.

There should be a number of options to prevent this from happening:

  • Display a warning message when the user clicks Change All (or presses the corresponding key) - at least if there is no replacement text given
  • Allow this operation to be undone
  • Modify the Find dialog box so that Find and Change are separate features

I don't have access to FrameMaker right now, but IIRC, FrameMaker displays a "not undoable" message before performing Change All. I'm not sure if recent releases have changed this, or perhaps if the warning is suppressed if History warnings are turned off in File > Preferences.

A good preventive measure is to save the files in which the action will occur - either the current file, or Shift+File > Save All Files in Book (from the book window), or Shift+File > Save All Open Files.


HTH
Regards,
Peter
 _______________________
 Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

S
susmurAuthor
Inspiring
December 13, 2009

FM used to display that message in previous releases (I believe this changed in FM 7.2). FM 8 and 9 do not display a warning message, no matter whether history warnings are turned on or off. I doesn't help to save the book before using the Find feature. With changes on a book level, FrameMaker will open each file in the book that isn't already open, make the changes, save them and close the file. You could create a backup of the book every time before you use the Find feature, but that's not really convenient ...

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices