I am trying to use Word 2003's Find function and wild card features to find a
phrase or sentence starting with the word "first" followed by 1 to 5
wild-card-words followed by the word "last" in a long specification (over 100
pages). (versus "first * last" which can return phrases hundreds of words
long between first and last)

I tried "first (*){1,5} last" in Find -- this expression selected phrases
with 1 to 5 wild card words between first and last but kept going to phrases
with over a hundred wild card words in between. Its selections were similar
to "first * last" but the differences were not predictable e.g. more matches
inside tables with *.

I searched Word Help and the Microsoft web site for references to a detailed
"wild card" users guide or white paper with no luck.

Can Find do what I want? If yes - how?

Is a detailed description of wild card expressions available?

G'Day Phillip,

See:
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/general/UsingWildcards.htm
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

"Phillip Topping" wrote in
message ...
I am trying to use Word 2003's Find function and wild card features to find
a
phrase or sentence starting with the word "first" followed by 1 to 5
wild-card-words followed by the word "last" in a long specification (over
100
pages). (versus "first * last" which can return phrases hundreds of words
long between first and last)

I tried "first (*){1,5} last" in Find -- this expression selected
phrases
with 1 to 5 wild card words between first and last but kept going to
phrases
with over a hundred wild card words in between. Its selections were
similar
to "first * last" but the differences were not predictable e.g. more
matches
inside tables with *.

I searched Word Help and the Microsoft web site for references to a
detailed
"wild card" users guide or white paper with no luck.

Can Find do what I want? If yes - how?

Is a detailed description of wild card expressions available?