[Pthom]

As a writer, I organize each book in a folder, each file representing a
chapter. Often, I need to make global changes across all the chapters, or to
quickly find a particular word or phrase, that might occur in more than one
chapter file. In previous editions of MS Word, I used [File: Open: Search],
typed in the desired search item, and after a bit, Word would show me those
files that contained it.

Now, in Word 2002 (XP Pro), that feature seems to be non-functional. Even
simple searches for the word "the" for example, which is in EVERY document,
fail to produce any results. Every time, I am presented with "No results
found." It does not seem to matter if I select "Everywhere" or just the
folder where I need to conduct the search. It also doesn't matter if I select
a particular file type or "all."

This is most frustrating. Any help is appreciated.

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Pthom

I think most of us have given up on trying to use the search in Word. Try
using Windows Explorer (otherwise known as My Documents or My Computer). You
can restrict the files you want to search by folder and type (ie name of the
file *.doc for Word documents) and identify the word or phrase you want to
search for.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word


"Pthom" wrote in message
...
As a writer, I organize each book in a folder, each file representing a
chapter. Often, I need to make global changes across all the chapters, or
to
quickly find a particular word or phrase, that might occur in more than
one
chapter file. In previous editions of MS Word, I used [File: Open:
Search],
typed in the desired search item, and after a bit, Word would show me
those
files that contained it.

Now, in Word 2002 (XP Pro), that feature seems to be non-functional. Even
simple searches for the word "the" for example, which is in EVERY
document,
fail to produce any results. Every time, I am presented with "No results
found." It does not seem to matter if I select "Everywhere" or just the
folder where I need to conduct the search. It also doesn't matter if I
select
a particular file type or "all."

This is most frustrating. Any help is appreciated.

[Pthom]

I like the search feature that's built into Word because it allows looking
for formatting as well as just text. I don't believe the Windows search does
that, but I could be wrong. The reason I like searching in word is that I
don't have to leave the program or flip back and forth between several
windows. (Yeah, even with a 20" monitor, desktop real estate is still at a
premium.)

As it turns out, I figured out my own workaround to the glitch in Word 2002:
I opened Word 2003 in another computer and ran its search (which works fine)
across the network. In W'03, the results are right there stuck to the side of
the document window and opening them is a cinch...WHILE I'm in the middle of
editing another file. But I'd rather work on the computer with W'02 on
it--guess I can always upgrade.

What amazes me is that the word processor and the operatiing system are
written by the same outfit. I guess it's a case of the left hand not knowing
what the right is doing, eh?

"Shauna Kelly" wrote:

Hi Pthom

I think most of us have given up on trying to use the search in Word. Try
using Windows Explorer (otherwise known as My Documents or My Computer). You
can restrict the files you want to search by folder and type (ie name of the
file *.doc for Word documents) and identify the word or phrase you want to
search for.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word