Microsoft KB Archive/39648

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

File: Find Command Finds More Than Expected
Last reviewed: October 27, 1994

Article ID: Q39648

Summary:

In Microsoft File, using the Find command to find text entries that include a comma (for example, searching for the string Paris, TX) may return more matches than is expected (for example, Paris, TX; Paris, France; Austin, TX; etc.). The Find command in Microsoft File uses a comma as an OR operator. Therefore, in the case of a search on the string Paris, TX, File finds all &quot;Paris&quot; entries and/or all &quot;TX&quot; entries.

To find a text entry that contains a comma (for example, Paris, TX), place double quotation marks around the entry in the Find dialog box (for example, &quot;Paris, TX&quot;). The quotation marks make File ignore the comma as an OR operator and, instead, read the text between the quotation marks literally. Thus, File searches only for entries that contain the string &quot;Paris, TX&quot;, instead of searching for entries that contain &quot;Paris&quot; and/or &quot;TX&quot; as part of the string.