ACTUAL SEARCH AND REPLACE
 

What's it do?

Actual Search & Replace finds files and executes search-and-replace operations across multiple files. It searches using Boolean operators and displays and highlights matching strings. The replace facility lets you insert text before or after search phrases, delete text, and replace text with spaces, in addition to standard text replacement.


Does it do what it promises?

Reviewer 1. Yes.

Reviewer 2. Yes.

Reviewer 3. Per the claims on its Website, yes it does.

Reviewer 4. Yes, it does, but only after one gets over a steep learning curve. It's hard to fathom what typical user this program might have been designed for, assuming that this question was ever considered by the author. This program is strongly reminiscent of the kind of "utility" a Unix programmer makes and shares with his hallway buddies in developing Unix programs or web pages.


Was it easy to install?

Reviewer 1. Yes, just click 'n go.

Reviewer 2. Yes.

Reviewer 3. It was a snap to install

Reviewer 4. Very easy, straightforward installation.


Good points?

Reviewer 1. It searches all types of files and uses expressions. When it provides the results, it lists the file name, location, and type. Clicking once on the file provides a preview of the information. You can also edit or execute the file from within the program. You can find phrases, multilines, and expressions. It does more than replace as it also inserts, deletes, and clears items. It also highlights the searched item in a different color so you don't have to search for it. Replacing doesn't happen automatically. The program searches for the files and then gives you the option of replacing selected or all files. Another excellent feature is the capability to undo the changes. Few programs allow you to undo changes of more than a couple of files, but this one undid 579 files. Projects can be saved and reloaded.

Reviewer 2. I have been editing stories for years and there are some problems with converting English to American that this software greatly simplifies. It allows me to do my basic edits within multiple files without having to open them individually. Great for software changes as well. When common library function names change, for example, and you have dozens of packages that need changing, this is the only way to go. It makes editing large numbers of files under Windows as easy as it is under UNIX

Reviewer 3. I felt it was quite user friendly for basic work (I tend to use the hands on approach instead of reading all the instructions.). It was extremely handy when I needed to change a URL in a large group of Word documents. I was glad of the back up/undo option, as I was leery about returning some of the files I tested it on to their original state. However, it worked just as the program stated. I thought the searches were very thorough.

Reviewer 4. Functionality covers almost any search and replace needs, the best of any utility I've seen. Free upgrade and free lifelong support.


Weak points?

Reviewer 1. The Help file is skimpy. I could not find what the Attribute letters meant after scouring the brief Help file. The program is easy enough to use without the Help file and there is beneficial information in the Help file, but those who are not power users will need more help than it offers.

Reviewer 2. The File Browser was weak, Windows 3.1 style, without any hierarchy at all. It didn't show things like "desktop" or "Briefcases", making finding things in those locations more difficult than need be. I could find them in Windows Explorer, then cut and paste the address into its file browser and that seemed to work.

Reviewer 3. The primary weak point I found was corrected in an update released while I was working with the program. I didn't completely understand some the contents within the Regular Expressions section and I found the Command Line Mode a bit confusing.

Reviewer 4. Legibility: very low contrast or intensity on its main screen makes usage on a laptop frustrating and tiresome. Program documentation, for all intents & purposes, is Missing in action. It consists only of 16 pages of help screens, most of which are perhaps appropriate for Unix programmers, but far over the heads of other users. The price of $29.95 is well above (?$9.95-$14.95?) what I'd guess most users willing to pay.


Other comments?

Reviewer 1. I have been looking for a program like this. There are few freeware versions available and they hardly have the power found in Actual Search and Replace. I believe the price is justifiable if the user needs it on a regular basis. I, on the other hand, only need such a program on several occasions and wouldn't pay for that amount. However, it's possible I'll use it instead of Windows Explorer's Find and learn to use it on a regular basis.

Reviewer 2. The purpose of what this does is basically simple and Actual Search and Replace does it admirably. I'd just like to see the file browser modernized. I only used this for text files and I can only assume that it would be the same for HTML as that is, after all text.

Reviewer 3. None.

Reviewer 4. The program's dimmed buttons I find VERY hard to see on my laptop screens. The rose/purple colored areas on the webpage I personally find unattractive and suggest the company look at some alternatives.


Will you continue to use it?

Reviewer 1. Yes.

Reviewer 2. Absolutely!

Reviewer 3. Yes. Although not something I'd use real often, it did prove to be quite useful.

Reviewer 4. Rarely, but appreciate it when required. However, it's hard to think of circumstances in which I'd recommend to clients or other users.

Back