WD: Word Cannot Replace Text With a Section Break

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

You cannot replace text with a section break.

Using the Special Button in the Replace Dialog Box

When you click Replace on the Edit menu, move to the Replace With box, and click the Special button, Section Break is not on the list.

Typing the Code for a Section Break (^b)

When you type the code for a section break (^b) into the Replace With box, and then click the Find Next, Replace, or Replace All, Word returns the following error message:

   ^b is not a valid special character for the Replace With box.

CAUSE

This functionality is by design. Word cannot replace text with a section break this way because there is no way to specify which type of section break you want to use.

WORKAROUND

To replace text with a section break, follow these steps:

1. In a new, blank document, insert a section break, and select the type of section break that you want to replace the text with--Continuous, Next Page, Even Page, or Odd Page.

2. Select the section break and the paragraph mark that immediately follows it.

3. On the Edit Menu, click Cut.

4. Open the document in which you want to replace text with the section break, and click Replace on the Edit menu.

5. In the Find What box, enter the text that will be replaced with the section break.

6. Press TAB to move to the Replace With box.

7. Click Special and select Clipboard Contents.

8. Click Find Next or Replace All.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 58-70, 260-261