How to Find and Replace Text in AutoCAD Quickly
In AutoCAD, use the
FIND command to open the Find and Replace dialog box where you can enter the text to find and the replacement text. This tool lets you search for specific text in your drawing and replace it easily across multiple text objects.Syntax
The basic syntax to open the Find and Replace tool in AutoCAD is:
FIND- Opens the Find and Replace dialog box.- In the dialog, enter the Find what text to search for.
- Enter the Replace with text to substitute.
- Choose options like Match case or Whole words only to refine the search.
- Click Replace or Replace All to update the text in the drawing.
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FIND
Output
Opens the Find and Replace dialog box in AutoCAD.
Example
This example shows how to replace all instances of the word "Door" with "Window" in your AutoCAD drawing.
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1. Type <code>FIND</code> in the command line and press Enter. 2. In the Find and Replace dialog, type "Door" in the <strong>Find what</strong> box. 3. Type "Window" in the <strong>Replace with</strong> box. 4. Click <strong>Replace All</strong> to change all occurrences at once. 5. Close the dialog when done.
Output
All text labeled "Door" in the drawing is replaced with "Window".
Common Pitfalls
- Not selecting the correct text objects: The Find and Replace tool only works on text and mtext objects, not on block names or attributes unless exploded.
- Ignoring case sensitivity: If Match case is checked, text with different capitalization won't be replaced.
- Replacing partial words unintentionally: Without Whole words only, parts of words may be replaced causing errors.
- Not saving your drawing before replacing: Always save a backup to avoid accidental data loss.
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Wrong way: FIND Find what: "door" Replace with: "window" Match case: checked Right way: FIND Find what: "Door" Replace with: "Window" Match case: unchecked (if you want all cases replaced)
Quick Reference
Here is a quick cheat sheet for using Find and Replace in AutoCAD:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| FIND | Command to open Find and Replace dialog |
| Find what | Text you want to locate |
| Replace with | Text to substitute |
| Match case | Search is case sensitive if checked |
| Whole words only | Only whole words are matched |
| Replace | Replace current found instance |
| Replace All | Replace all instances in the drawing |
Key Takeaways
Use the FIND command to open the Find and Replace dialog in AutoCAD.
Always check options like Match case and Whole words only to avoid unwanted replacements.
Save your drawing before performing bulk replacements to prevent data loss.
Find and Replace works on text and mtext objects, not on block names or attributes directly.
Use Replace All to quickly update multiple text instances at once.