Writer How can I find text by attribute and replace with a style?

[big_smile]

I have several long documents, where the same formatting is used through out, but Paragraph styles have not been used.

Example: On every page, there is a heading in Bold, font size 24.
There is a subheading in Bold, font size 12. etc

Is it possible to use find and replace to find text by formatting attribute and then use replace to apply a paragraph style?

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Steps I have tried:

Step one: Using the built-in Find and Replace.

With this, I can search text that has specific formatting attributes, but there doesn’t seem to be any way to replace the found text with a paragraph style.

The find and replace has a checkbox option for “Including Styles”. However, there does not seem to be any way to select paragraph style in the replace field.

Step 2: Using the “Alternative Find & Replace” addon

This add on is supposed to allow the use of styles in Find and Replace.

But when I use it, I just get this screen:

It let’s me use Paragraph styles in the replace, but I can’t search by formatting attribute.

Environment:
Libre Office Version: 6.2.5.2
On Mac OS X 10.14.5

[anon73440385]

Have you tried tab: Properties in Search for?

[big_smile]

@anon73440385 Are you talking about alt.Find and Replace? When I click on properties, nothing happens. How do I use it to select formatting attribute? Thanks!

[anon73440385]

@big_smile, yes alt.Find and Replace - according to the screenshot. Sorry for this imprecise comment (Before commenting checked on my Linux, where there a plenty of formats to search for; did not check on Mac OS X Mojave).

[Grantler]

Step one: Using the built-in Find and Replace.

With this, I can search text that has
specific formatting attributes, but
there doesn’t seem to be any way to
replace the found text with a
paragraph style.

If your text is hard formatted (e.g. font size 24) you can search/find all and the text is selected. Close FIND&REPLACE and the text still is selected. Apply any paragraph style and the selected paragraphs (and texts) will change the properties.

If there are more than one font sizes within one paragraph you have to use some steps more (search/find paragraph style and hit STRG+M (STRG = German for CTRL) resp. CTRL+M for eliminating rests of hard format).

[ajlittoz]

STRG = Steuerung? I took the liberty to replace it with CTRL

[Grantler]

@ajlittoz You’re right, German Steuerung means English control. I updated my answer. Thanks a lot!

[ajlittoz]

@Grantler: Bitte schön! I couldn’t edit your answer because I’m experiencing service disruption (lots of “server internal error”). I think my account is corrupted.

[danny6497]

Thanks, it helps!