Find and replace

The Find and replace helper is designed to streamline text modifications by identifying specific strings and substituting them with new ones.

Common use-cases

• Content editing: Updates text in documents, such as changing names, dates, or specific terms.

• Data cleanup: Helps standardize terminology, fix spelling errors, and update outdated information across datasets or databases.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Input text: Begin with mapping in the text that needs editing in to “Text to search in”.

2. Replacements: Create a collection of replacements. These are pairs of values to be replaced and their replacements (case-sensitive).

Pro tip

For multiple changes, use the [+] Add replacement button to include additional pairs of "Text to find" and "Text to replace with."

Example - Data anonymization

Consider you need to anonymize sensitive data, such as patient names in a healthcare dataset, to ensure privacy and compliance with data protection regulations.

1. Input the data set in to “Text to search in.”

2. Use "Find and replace".

   • Text to find: Each actual name in the dataset (John Doe, Jane Smith).

   • Text to replace with: The corresponding anonymized identifier (Patient001, Patient002).

The output data retains its usefulness for analysis or sharing, minus the privacy concerns.