Find/Find and Replace dialog

You use the Find dialog to search the current view, branch or programme for bars and tasks with names, task notes, user-defined fields or other identifiers containing a particular alphanumeric string. For example, you could use this dialog to search for all tasks with 'Job' in their name, or all tasks with 'A20' in their WBS code.

You use the Find and Replace dialog to search for bars and tasks with names or task notes containing a particular alphanumeric string, and to replace these strings with alternative strings. For example, you could use this dialog to search for all tasks with '2011' in their name and replace that string with '2012'.

  • To access the Find dialog, on the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Find.
  • To access the Find and Replace dialog, on the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Find and Replace.
Field/Button Description
Find what

Enter an alphanumeric string that you want to search for. For example, enter Prepare Report to find bars and tasks with an identifier including the string 'Prepare Report'. Asta Powerproject searches for the string that you enter in whichever identifier you select in the Look in field.

 

You can include other, non-alphanumeric, characters in your string, such as !, ", £ and *. For example, you could search for a string such as 'Complete "B20" ticksheet'.
Look in

Select the identifier in which you want to search for the string that you enter in the Find what field.

 

You can choose from the following identifiers (note that the final four identifiers appear only in the Find dialog):

  • Name - select this to search in bar and task names.
  • Notes - select this to search in task notes.
  • WBS - select this to search in WBS codes.
  • WBN - select this to search in task ID (WBN) codes.
  • UTID - select this to search in unique task IDs.
  • User-defined field name - select this to search in a specific user-defined field. All string-type user-defined fields that have been created for bars, tasks or milestones appear here.
Replace with

Enter an alphanumeric string that you want to use to replace the string you entered in the Find what field. For example, if you have entered Prepare Report in the Find what field, enter Prepare Structural Report in this field to replace instances of 'Prepare Report' with 'Prepare Structural Report'.

 

Note that this field appears only in the Find and Replace dialog.
Match case Select this check box to make the search case-sensitive, or clear the check box to search for the string you have entered in the Find what field regardless of case. If you make the search case-sensitive, searching for tasks with a name of  'Order0001' will not return objects with a code of 'order0001' or 'ORDER0001'.
Find whole words only

Select this check box to search for the precise string that you enter in the Find what field only when it appears as discrete words, or clear the check box to search for the string when it appears as part of larger strings as well.

 

For example, with this check box selected, searching for bars and tasks containing the string 'ground' in their names would find tasks called 'ground work' and 'level ground', but would not find tasks called 'groundwork' or 'underground'. With this check box cleared, all of the above tasks would be found.
Search in current view only Click this radio button to search for bars and tasks in the current view only.
Search entire branch Click this radio button to search for bars and tasks in the current view and in any subordinate subcharts and summary groups.
Search all Click this radio button to search for bars and tasks in the entire programme of projects.
Replace

The first time you click this button, the first instance of the string you entered in the Find what field is located and highlighted. Click this button again to replace this instance with the string you entered in the Replace with field and to locate the next instance of the string, which you can then replace by clicking this button again, and so on.

 

Note that this button appears only in the Find and Replace dialog.
Replace All

Click this button to replace all instances of the string you entered in the Find what field with the string you entered in the Replace with field.

 

Note that this button appears only in the Find and Replace dialog.
Find Next

Click this button to locate the next instance of the string you entered in the Find what field.

 

If you are using the Find and Replace dialog, you can then click Replace to replace the string with the string that you entered in the Replace with field.

How do I...

  1. Enter an alphanumeric string in the Find what field. For example, enter Prepare Report to find bars and tasks with an identifier including the string 'Prepare Report'.
  2. Select the identifier in which you want to search for the string in the Look in field.
  3. Select the Match case check box to make your search case-sensitive, or clear the check box to search regardless of case. For example, if you search for Prepare Report and select the Match case check box, Asta Powerproject will find bars and tasks called 'Prepare Report', but not tasks called 'prepare report', 'Prepare report', 'PREPARE REPORT' and so on.
  4. Select the Find whole words only check box to search for the precise string that you enter in the Find what field only when it appears as discrete words, or clear the check box to search for the string when it appears as part of larger strings as well.
  5. Specify the scope of your search in the Search scope group.
  6. Click Find Next. Asta Powerproject finds the first bar or task with an identifier that includes the string and highlights it in the bar chart.
  7. Click Find Next repeatedly to locate the next matching bar or task.
  1. Enter an alphanumeric string in the Find what field. For example, enter Prepare Report to find bars and tasks with an identifier including the string 'Prepare Report'.
  2. Select the identifier in which you want to search for the string in the Look in field.
  3. In the Replace with field, enter an alphanumeric string that you want to use to replace the string you entered in the Find what field. For example, if you have entered Prepare Report in the Find what field, enter Prepare Structural Report in this field to replace instances of 'Prepare Report' with 'Prepare Structural Report'.
  4. Select the Match case check box to make your search case-sensitive, or clear the check box to search regardless of case. For example, if you search for Prepare Report and select the Match case check box, Asta Powerproject will find bars and tasks called 'Prepare Report', but not tasks called 'prepare report', 'Prepare report', 'PREPARE REPORT' and so on.
  5. Select the Find whole words only check box to search for the precise string that you enter in the Find what field only when it appears as discrete words, or clear the check box to search for the string when it appears as part of larger strings as well.
  6. Specify the scope of your search in the Search scope group.
  7. Click Replace. Asta Powerproject locates and highlights the first instance of the string you entered in the Find what field.
  8. Click Replace again to replace this instance with the string you entered in the Replace with field and to locate the next instance of the string, which you can then replace by clicking this button again, and so on.
  9. Click Find Next to skip over an instance of the string without replacing it.

Related Topics:

Working with dialogs

Using Find and Replace to search for bars and tasks