MS Word Pattern Search and Replace

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This filter is identical in function to a pattern search and replace, except that it supports MS Word-style syntax for specifying patterns:

To find	Use this wildcard	Examples
Any single character	?	s?t finds "sat" and "set".
Any string of characters	*	s*d finds "sad" and "started".
One of the specified characters	[ ]	w[io]n finds "win" and "won".
Any single character in this range	[-]	[r-t]ight finds "right" and "sight". Ranges must be in ascending order.
Any single character except the characters inside the brackets	[!]	m[!a]st finds "mist" and "most", but not "mast".
Any single character except characters in the range inside the brackets	[!x-z]	t[!a-m]ck finds "tock" and "tuck", but not "tack" or "tick".
Exactly n occurrences of the previous character or expression	{n}	fe{2}d finds "feed" but not "fed".
At least n occurrences of the previous character or expression	{n,}	fe{1,}d finds "fed" and "feed".
From n to m occurrences of the previous character or expression	{n,m}	10{1,3} finds "10", "100", and "1000".
One or more occurrences of the previous character or expression	@	lo@t finds "lot" and "loot".
The beginning of a word	<	<(inter) finds "interesting" and "intercept", but not "splintered".
The end of a word	>	(in)> finds "in" and "within", but not "interesting".

Notes

Type <(pre)*(ed)> to find "presorted" and "prevented".
You can use the $n wildcard to search for an expression and then replace it with the rearranged expression. For example, type (Newton) (Christie) in the Find what box and $\2 $1 in the Replace with box. TextPipe will find "Newton Christie" and replace it with "Christie Newton".

MS Word Pattern Troubleshooting

Type the search text correctly Make sure you didn't mistype the text or add extra spaces before or after it.

Clear the Match case check box If this check box is selected, TextPipe finds only text with the specified capitalization (for example, if you search for "Most", TextPipe won't find "most" or "MOST").

Clear the Find whole words only check box If this check box is selected, TextPipe finds only complete words (for example, if you search for "enter", TextPipe won't find "entertain").

When I use MS Word wildcard characters, TextPipe doesn't find certain text.

Examples For example, a search for s*t will find "sat" but not "Sat" or "SAT". If you want to search for any combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, use the square brackets wildcard. For example, type [Ss]*[Tt] to find "sat", "Sat", or "SAT".

Specify all variations of a word When you use wildcards, TextPipe finds whole words only. For example, a search for e*r will find "enter" but not "entertain". (Notice that the Find whole words only check box is dimmed to indicate that this option is automatically on; you can't turn off the option.) If you want to search for all variations of a word, use the appropriate wildcard characters. For example, type <(e*r) to find "enter" and "entertain".