Excel Smart Find and Replace only specific characters

Solution 1:

If you go the VBA route, try using Regular Expressions

Here's a start

Sub ReplaceWithRE()
    Dim re As Object 'RegExp
    Dim rng As Range, cl As Range
    Dim sh As Worksheet
    Dim wb As Workbook
    Dim sReplace As String
    Dim aReplace(0 To 1, 0 To 1) As String
    Dim i As Long

    Set wb = ActiveWorkbook
    Set re = CreateObject("vbscript.regexp") ' New RegExp
    re.Global = True
    re.IgnoreCase = False
    re.MultiLine = True

    ' Load array of patterns and replacements
    aReplace(0, 0) = "\bINT\b"
    aReplace(0, 1) = "INTERNATIONAL"
    aReplace(1, 0) = "\bNA\b"
    aReplace(1, 1) = "NATIONAL ASSEMBLY"

    For Each sh In wb.Worksheets
        On Error Resume Next
        Set rng = sh.UsedRange.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants)
        If Err.Number <> 0 Then
            Err.Clear
        Else
            On Error GoTo 0
            For Each cl In rng
                sReplace = cl.Value
                ' Test each cell for each pattern, replace when found
                For i = 0 To UBound(aReplace, 1)
                    re.Pattern = aReplace(i, 0)
                    If re.Test(sReplace) Then
                        sReplace = re.Replace(sReplace, aReplace(i, 1))
                    End If
                Next
                cl.Value = sReplace
            Next
        End If
    Next


End Sub

Solution 2:

If the values you are looking to replace are by themselves in the cells (no other text), definitely follow CharlieRB's solution. If the values are located in the cells, along with additional text, a slightly modified version would work.

Open the Find and Replace window. Click the "Replace" tab.

Enter the "Find what" and the "Replace with" values. Click the "Find All" button.

Review the list at the bottom that details what records were found. Highlight the record you want to update, and click the "Replace" button.