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Most things that can be done via the front-end interface in Mathematica can also be accomplished by some function. Is that the case for find-and-replacing? That is, is there some code I could execute in a Mathematica notebook that would have the same effect as me using the Edit > Find… window to replace all occurrences of "find this text" with "replace with this text" through the whole notebook?

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Update: I think I've got it.

I found a token that does the replacement without bringing up a dialog. The values from the last use of the Find and Replace dialog will be used. The command is:

FrontEndExecute @ FrontEndToken[nb, "ReplaceAll"]

where nb is the target Notebook object.

To preset the Find and Replace fields one can modify the FindSettings option of the Front End like so:

CurrentValue[$FrontEnd, {FindSettings, "FindString"}]  = "This";
CurrentValue[$FrontEnd, {FindSettings, "ReplaceBoxes"}] = "That";

Now:

enter image description here

FrontEndExecute @ FrontEndToken[nb, "ReplaceAll"]

After:

enter image description here

Version 7

In version 7 under Windows I need this variation for the method to work:

CurrentValue[$FrontEnd, {FindSettings, "ReplaceString"}] = "That";
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  • $\begingroup$ I can't make functions from SystemResources/Find.nb working, any idea? FE`Evaluate[ FEPrivate`FindExpression[ FrontEnd`CurrentValue[ FrontEnd`$FrontEnd, {FindSettings, "FindBoxes"}], "Previous", False, False, False]] $\endgroup$ – Kuba♦ May 15 '15 at 7:32
  • $\begingroup$ @Mr.Wizard The "FindString" option seems to work as expected for me, but the "ReplaceBoxes" (or "ReplaceString", which I also tried) option has no effect. (Mma 9.0.1.0) $\endgroup$ – thecommexokid May 15 '15 at 16:46
  • $\begingroup$ @thecommexokid Possibly just the CurrentValue method is failing. Please use the Find and Replace dialog with unique values for the find and replace fields, then evaluate Options[$FrontEnd, FindSettings] and tell me if the suboptions "FindString" and "ReplaceBoxes" exist, and have been set to the values you entered. If so it should be possible to get this working. $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard♦ May 16 '15 at 3:20
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, Options[$FrontEnd, FindSettings] gives the values I entered. $\endgroup$ – thecommexokid May 18 '15 at 1:20
  • $\begingroup$ And CurrentValue[$FrontEnd, {FindSettings, "ReplaceBoxes"}] = "differentString" returns Null, but if I execute Options[$FrontEnd, FindSettings] again afterward, the ReplaceBoxes setting shows the new value. $\endgroup$ – thecommexokid May 18 '15 at 1:21

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