Local Text Search/Replace in the HMI Editor

The HMI editor provides a local search/replace function with which you can find/replace object and symbol names, comments, etc., in the active page. Also observe the project-global FIND AND REPLACE function located in the Cross Function Area.

The local search/replace function helps you to find and replace elements in the active worksheet. The search finds all elements that contain the search string in their name, comment, etc.

Note
The function is restricted to the worksheet/page where it has been called.

Find and replace text as follows:

Open the search/replace bar by pressing <Ctrl> + <F> (the 'Find what' field gets the focus), <Ctrl> + <H> (the 'Replace with' field gets the focus), or click the button on the worksheet's toolbar. The bar appears below the worksheet's toolbar.
Alternatively, select any text in the editor and press <Ctrl> + <F> or <Ctrl> + <H>. The bar will open with the selected text entered in the 'Find what' field.
Enter the text to be found into the 'Find what' field or select a previous search string from the drop-down list in the input field.
Optionally, click the option button on the search bar and activate the desired find options. You can use wildcards or regular expressions. Refer to the section below.

Note
Incorrect 'Find options' may lead to an invalid search result. Make sure that the checked options are suitable for the entered search string.
Click the 'Continue search' button or press <Enter> to jump to the first found occurrence of the search string.
To search forward, click the 'Continue search' button or press <F3>. To search backward, press <Shift> + <F3>.
To replace found text, enter the desired string into the 'Replace with' field.
- Click 'Replace' (shortcut <Alt> + <R>) to replace only the occurrence selected in the result list.
- Click 'Replace All' (shortcut <Alt> + <A>) to replace all occurrences of the found string, independently of the selection in the worksheet.

Note
When closing the search bar, the entered search string is retained. Pressing <F3> in the current worksheet finds the next occurrence of the search string and <Shift> + <F3> the previous occurrence.
The search string is deleted when you close the worksheet.

Find options

Find option	Description
Find backward	If activated, the search string is searched (and replaced) backward inside the editor from the current cursor position/selected object in the editor to the top of the editor. In case the top of the editor is reached, the search will automatically restart from the end of the editor.
Match Case	If activated, the search is done case-sensitive: only text matching upper and lower cases of the entered search string is found.
Match whole word	The found text has to match with the whole search text. Like 'Match Case', this option is also useful to limit the number of found text occurrences.
Use wildcards	The use of the wildcards '' and '?' is allowed in the search text: ? represents a single character in the search string, represents one or more characters in the search string. The wildcards can be combined in the search string.
Use regular expressions	Regular expressions allow more complex text searches by entering particular search patterns, i.e., search strings that follow a defined syntax. The most relevant expressions are listed below.

Regular expressions

Expression	Description	Examples
*	Quantifier: matches the previous element zero, one or more times.	'Find what': \d*.5 Found: 1.5, 999.5, .5
+	Quantifier: matches the previous element one or more times.	'Find what': o+ ('Match Case' unchecked) Found: OO in BOOL and o in PLCMODE_ON (variable name)
\|	Alternation, i.e., logical OR combination of search terms: matches any one term separated by the \| character.	'Find what': In(Var\|Signal) Found: InVar and InSignal
[first-last]	Character range: matches any single character in the range from first to last.	'Find what': [A-C] Found: A and C in ACDC1974 'Find what': [1-5] Found: 1 and 4 in ACDC1974
[c1..c2..c3]	Character selection: matches each single character specified within brackets, separated by "..".	'Find what': [1..4..7] Found: 1 and 4 and 7 in ACDC1974
\d	Character selection: matches any decimal digit.	'Find what': \d Found: Text worksheet: 0 and 1 in C001 Graphical worksheet: literal containing a decimal number as well as CTD_1 instance name.
\s	Character selection: matches any white space.	'Find what': \s Found: Graphical worksheet: spaces in comments
^	Position anchor: the match must start at the beginning of the string or line.	'Find what': ^CTD Found: Text worksheet: CTD_1 in CTD_1 : CTD; Graphical worksheet: instance name and FB name, standing alone Variables table: type in instance declaration
$	Position anchor: the match must start at the end of the string or line.	'Find what': TON$ Found: Graphical worksheet: instance name, standing alone, and TON at the end of the comment string.

Toolbar and keyboard shortcuts for local text search/replace

Button	Shortcut	Description
	<F3>	Goes to the next occurrence of the search string.
-	<Shift> + <F3>	Goes to the previous occurrence of the search string.
	-	Shows the find options which allow you to customize the search (see the description above). The tooltip of the button shows the currently acitvated find options.
	<Alt> + <R> or <Enter> if the 'Replace with' text box is focused.	Replaces the current occurrence of the search string by the replace string.
-	<Shift> + <Alt> + <R> or <Shift> + <Enter> if the 'Replace with' text box is focused.	Replaces the previous occurrence of the search string by the replace string.
	<Alt> + <A>	Replaces all occurrences of the search string by the replace string.
	1	Closes the search bar. The entered search string is retained.