Forum Discussion
How do I have Excel treat each file separately - for search, undo, etc.
Excel treats all files I have open as one. By that I mean there is one search box that works across all files open. If I want to search for different things in different files, I have to keep changing what I am searching. Same with undo. It undoes across files, which can be very annoying. How do I get it to treat each file individually? I would think this would be the default or that there would be a switch but I can't find one.
I thought I had wrapped this up by saying that the option to start independent instances of Excel by using the /X startup option is my solution. This makes each file independent with separate undo and find/replace boxes. But, I did not see that this morning when MS asked me to indicate the best solution. mathetes
16 Replies
Here a small solution with VBA is a bit more cumbersome, but it does its job. Maybe it will help you as a preliminary solution.
Best regards,
Nikolino
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)Search and select
This option is located on the top right of the Start menuIn the options you can also select the worksheet.
Find and select cells that meet specific conditions
If you find this helpful, please mark it as "Best Answer" and as Like (click thumbs up), it will be beneficial to more Community members reading here.
Nikolino
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)
- Only now do I see that it is 365 ... believe that mathetes answer is more suitable.
Reading through doesn't hurt either 🙂
Anyway, I wish you a lot of fun and a pleasant day.
Nikolino
If you click on the "Search" icon (the magnifying glass) and then on the little arrow in the box itself, it gives this dialog box, with the choice of search in sheet OR search in workbook.
There's nothing about searching in all open workbooks (i.e., in all open files)...
And, frankly, it just doesn't make sense that it wouldn't be operating as you're suggesting it should. So I'm wondering whether you're doing something else, doing your search and undo commands at a system level, somehow.......
Could you describe a bit more how you're going about these tasks?
Let me clarify. I have (for simplicity) opened two files. I perform a search in the first file. I then click on the
other file and the same search box (and search term) appears. It fact, when I flip from one file to the other, the search box stays in focus and is on top of the file I select. But, the files (and tabs within each file) are unrelated so the search box should be unique for each file not shared between them (and all other files). When I use Word, the search window is unique for each file, but not in Excel. How do I make it unique for each file?
OK, I think I see what you're referring to. It's NOT the little magnifying glass "search" tool. What you're referring to is the Edit....Find.... tool. And, yes, it does come up with the same term if I open it first in one spreadsheet and then another. My guess as to the "Why" is that this is a capability that operates at the more abstract "Excel as a whole" level; it's NOT spreadsheet specific, whereas the search window is.
(In fact, I can see why some users might find it convenient---since Find & Replace also operates the same way, if the occasion were to arise where every occasion of Mary had to be changed to Merry, it would be useful not to be required to enter those instructions repeatedly.)
If it doesn't work that way in Word, I can see why the inconsistency would raise the question in your mind. But I certainly hope it's not something that is keeping you awake at night. If it is, look around for the following connection and submit a suggestion.
