Great Access Tools – Find and Replace

Important Update

Since the closure of UtterAccess’s site, this download is no longer available! Furthermore, since UtterAccess’ downloads where behind a login, we cannot utilize the Wayback Archive to retrieve copies!

Ever wanted to change a field name but have no clue what objects use it?

Historically developers turned towards tools like:

Speed Ferret (last updated for Access 2002 and I don’t think the company is issuing licenses anymore)
Rick Fisher’s Find and Replace (as noted below by John Colby, apparently Rick Fisher passed away, another great loss to the Access community!)

So what are our options now!?

Thankfully, Brent Spaulding (aka datAdrenaline) created the Search for Text utility which can be found in the UtterAccess.com Code Archive forum (along with many other little gems!).

You can do things like:

Identify where a field is used. Great for updating.
Identify where tables, queries, etc. are used. Great for cleanup.
Identify where you refer/call various objects
etc.

The search looks through:

Tables
Queries
Forms (including their VBA module)
Reports (including their VBA module)
Macros
Modules
Command Bars

The beauty of this utility, beyond what it actually does (which is simply amazing), is the fact that it is a self-contained form (everything is included within the form and it’s form module). Simply import the form into any database and use it! It is that simple!!!

Another nice feature is that the search results are separated by object type (tables, queries, …) and are in plain text format, so you can copy/paste as required by your project/work methodology.

Lastly, although I have not tested it, the single API declaration used in the tool has been setup for both x32 and x64 bit versions of Access.

All that’s left to say is Thank you Brent!

Other Alternatives

Another alternative perhaps worth reviewing is V-Tools.

Note

I have no affiliation with above mentioned website, developer, product, company … The above is an independent, unsolicited post based on my personal opinion.

Other Articles in this Series

19 responses on “Great Access Tools – Find and Replace”

Allen February 6, 2018 at 1:28 pm

OK the UtterAccess link URL has too many ttt in it and there is no way to access the Code Archive once you get there and register. Almost every link returns a broken link message.
Any idea what’s going on with this?

Daniel Pineault Post authorFebruary 6, 2018 at 2:00 pm

I just tested the links and they all worked for me and I was able to successfully download a copy of the file.

Any chance you could try another web browser perhaps?

Hal Darst February 18, 2018 at 2:00 am

The glitch is likely, that after you register (if you’re new to the UA website as I am), the registration sends a confirmation to your email, and you have to click/respond to that email before you’ll have full access to the site such that you can get to the actual download page.

Had to research a little about how to deal with the DAO error message, (bring up VBA, go to Tools – Reference, then find “Microsoft Office database engine objects” then tick the box).

It now works for me, and I am immensely grateful! I had been using Rick Fisher’s but my previously registered product doesn’t seem to work now. And this has a simplicity that I appreciate. Wish I had tool available for the previous umpteen revisions of my database. I have hope that future ones can be modified SOOO much easier and quickly. Again – thanks much !

Achille Carzaniga November 28, 2018 at 2:56 pm

good afternoon, i use Fisher Findandreplace with Acces2016, no problem. I tried to purchase the program but it’s impossible. How it’s possible to have a legal activation code? Thank and regards, Carzaniga Achille

Daniel Pineault Post authorNovember 28, 2018 at 3:06 pm

I wish I knew. I’ve tried for three months and never heard back from him. I contacted him through different means, and even Paypal couldn’t get any reply.

Other MVPs that know him tried to contact him and never heard back.

So something has obviously happened and as it stands right now, I do not believe it possible to get a license. For me the software is dead. Sadly.
1. Achille Carzaniga December 4, 2018 at 8:16 pm
  
  thank a lot, but in this case it’s possible to have a registration code and activates the program? I think that if copyright is expired or the creator doesn’t answer, it’s not illegal to use a registration code. It’s possible to have it by a previous customer, or buy it as a used one? Or, last solution: there is an alternative program, also a commercial one, wich can do the same features of f&r? Regards Achille.
  1. Daniel Pineault Post authorDecember 5, 2018 at 5:46 am
    
    Copyright varies from region to region, I’m assuming the US one applies here. As such, copyright doesn’t just cease because you can’t get ahold of the copyright holder. So, it would be illegal to use it, bypass the registration code, use someone else’s registration code, … Sadly, Rick has left use in a state that his software cannot be used by anyone who doesn’t already have a registration code. Obviously, I am no lawyer, so advise you to speak with a lawyer for proper legal advise on the matter before doing anything with Rick’s software.
    
    Rick has become completely unresponsive and as such, no one seem to be able to contact him and thus it appears impossible to get a registration code anymore! To me, his software is no longer an option for new users.
    
    This is actually why I created this page to offer an alternate software (and this one is free on top of it!). Check it out for yourself.
    1. Achille Carzaniga February 18, 2019 at 6:43 pm
      
      THANK A LOT…
      I tried to use the alternative tools, not bad but it’s not what i need, In my case I need to change an identification code inside all the program. Sample: my last program was the A51prg and all the queries, masks, tables, reports… are named as “A51Qxxx”, “A51Mxxx”,”A51Txxx”,A51Rxxx”… Now I need to create a new similar program with little modifications wich it’ named A52PRG, with the old F&R I changed in only one instruction all the name from A51 to A52. It was really easy. Whit the new one it has to be done one by one, and normally are like 1500 changements. At the moment the solution it’s to copy the program on a new pc, install F&R and change. Please, if do you will have a news about a new program keep me in touch, thank’you. I tried to look every were inside the register to find the setup of the date key of F&R insuccesfully. Regards, Achille
    2. Achille Carzaniga February 20, 2019 at 3:14 pm
      
      I found a simple and legal solution using RunAsDate, just to suggest a solution waiting a new version of Find&Replace. Thank a lot and regards Achille.

Louis February 20, 2020 at 8:34 pm

I thought he was a one man band but it would appear the lack of responsiveness is that he has a company to run and staff to manage:
https://www.zoominfo.com/c/Rick-fisher-consulting/96553840

Daniel Pineault Post authorFebruary 22, 2020 at 6:06 am

Be careful, a lot of such sites are inaccurate. I know report on my business are completely wrong. Ask yourself where they are getting the data from exactly! Take it with a grain of salt, if that.

Louis March 18, 2020 at 7:50 pm

I found this one. Seems it was build in to replace Rick’s in frustration, might be worth a try:
https://accessdevtools.com/product/find-and-replace/
I haven’t been able to install it yet due to my environment’s security restrictions, so can’t provide any feedback.

Daniel Pineault Post authorMarch 18, 2020 at 7:56 pm

Yes, indeed. I recently made an entire post dedicated to it and it showed some serious potential. You can read the whole thing at Access – New Find and Replace for Developers!

John Cropper April 16, 2020 at 8:02 am

Interesting article – thank you, Daniel. For many years I have been using a paid-up copy of Rick Fisher’s Find and Replace and have found it invaluable. Version 9k works just fine in Access 2016 running under Windows 10 except for one increasingly frustrating behaviour – from time to time it just disappears from the Add-Ins menu under Database tools. The related entries in the registry also vanish, as if it has been uninstalled. To get it back, I have to reinstall it again. At first I thought this might be related to an Access or Windows update being installed, but the last time it happened, the Update History did not show any updates during the period since I last used F & R. I would really appreciate it if you have any suggestions as to what the problem might be. Thanks, John.

John Colby April 22, 2023 at 9:58 pm

AFAIK Rick died long ago. His family hasn’t a clue about the program and so his program died with him.

Daniel Pineault Post authorApril 22, 2023 at 10:43 pm

Thank you for sharing. Sad news as he had a great product!

I’m going to pass this information along as many MVP that knew him personally were unaware of his passing.

Don Hirst August 9, 2025 at 7:56 pm

Daniel,
I have been using Skrol29’s VTOOLS plugin for several years. It has recently become unusable with current versions of MS365 Access. In looking for alternatives, I found your blog and its information about utteraccess.com, Brent Spaulding, and his Search for Text utility. Do you know anywhere that I might be able to find a copy of that utility or one like it? Thanks for any insight you can provide. DVHirst, Eugene, OR.

Daniel Pineault Post authorAugust 9, 2025 at 8:17 pm

Because downloads on UA were behind a login, even wayback archives are useless.

I’ve uploaded a copy that I had on my OneDrive, you are welcome to it. It will however only be there for a few days.

Brent Spaulding – Search for Text utility Download

Don Hirst August 9, 2025 at 8:17 pm

I found your review of ADT’s search and replace add-in. Thanks for that. I’m still looking for a freebie, though, that has functionality like this tool and vtools, as well. Ideas?

Allen February 6, 2018 at 1:28 pm

OK the UtterAccess link URL has too many ttt in it and there is no way to access the Code Archive once you get there and register. Almost every link returns a broken link message.
Any idea what’s going on with this?
1. Daniel Pineault Post authorFebruary 6, 2018 at 2:00 pm
  
  I just tested the links and they all worked for me and I was able to successfully download a copy of the file.
  
  Any chance you could try another web browser perhaps?
Hal Darst February 18, 2018 at 2:00 am

The glitch is likely, that after you register (if you’re new to the UA website as I am), the registration sends a confirmation to your email, and you have to click/respond to that email before you’ll have full access to the site such that you can get to the actual download page.

Had to research a little about how to deal with the DAO error message, (bring up VBA, go to Tools – Reference, then find “Microsoft Office database engine objects” then tick the box).

It now works for me, and I am immensely grateful! I had been using Rick Fisher’s but my previously registered product doesn’t seem to work now. And this has a simplicity that I appreciate. Wish I had tool available for the previous umpteen revisions of my database. I have hope that future ones can be modified SOOO much easier and quickly. Again – thanks much !
Achille Carzaniga November 28, 2018 at 2:56 pm

good afternoon, i use Fisher Findandreplace with Acces2016, no problem. I tried to purchase the program but it’s impossible. How it’s possible to have a legal activation code? Thank and regards, Carzaniga Achille
1. Daniel Pineault Post authorNovember 28, 2018 at 3:06 pm
  
  I wish I knew. I’ve tried for three months and never heard back from him. I contacted him through different means, and even Paypal couldn’t get any reply.
  
  Other MVPs that know him tried to contact him and never heard back.
  
  So something has obviously happened and as it stands right now, I do not believe it possible to get a license. For me the software is dead. Sadly.
  1. Achille Carzaniga December 4, 2018 at 8:16 pm
    
    thank a lot, but in this case it’s possible to have a registration code and activates the program? I think that if copyright is expired or the creator doesn’t answer, it’s not illegal to use a registration code. It’s possible to have it by a previous customer, or buy it as a used one? Or, last solution: there is an alternative program, also a commercial one, wich can do the same features of f&r? Regards Achille.
    1. Daniel Pineault Post authorDecember 5, 2018 at 5:46 am
      
      Copyright varies from region to region, I’m assuming the US one applies here. As such, copyright doesn’t just cease because you can’t get ahold of the copyright holder. So, it would be illegal to use it, bypass the registration code, use someone else’s registration code, … Sadly, Rick has left use in a state that his software cannot be used by anyone who doesn’t already have a registration code. Obviously, I am no lawyer, so advise you to speak with a lawyer for proper legal advise on the matter before doing anything with Rick’s software.
      
      Rick has become completely unresponsive and as such, no one seem to be able to contact him and thus it appears impossible to get a registration code anymore! To me, his software is no longer an option for new users.
      
      This is actually why I created this page to offer an alternate software (and this one is free on top of it!). Check it out for yourself.
      1. Achille Carzaniga February 18, 2019 at 6:43 pm
        
        THANK A LOT…
        I tried to use the alternative tools, not bad but it’s not what i need, In my case I need to change an identification code inside all the program. Sample: my last program was the A51prg and all the queries, masks, tables, reports… are named as “A51Qxxx”, “A51Mxxx”,”A51Txxx”,A51Rxxx”… Now I need to create a new similar program with little modifications wich it’ named A52PRG, with the old F&R I changed in only one instruction all the name from A51 to A52. It was really easy. Whit the new one it has to be done one by one, and normally are like 1500 changements. At the moment the solution it’s to copy the program on a new pc, install F&R and change. Please, if do you will have a news about a new program keep me in touch, thank’you. I tried to look every were inside the register to find the setup of the date key of F&R insuccesfully. Regards, Achille
      2. Achille Carzaniga February 20, 2019 at 3:14 pm
        
        I found a simple and legal solution using RunAsDate, just to suggest a solution waiting a new version of Find&Replace. Thank a lot and regards Achille.
Louis February 20, 2020 at 8:34 pm

I thought he was a one man band but it would appear the lack of responsiveness is that he has a company to run and staff to manage:
https://www.zoominfo.com/c/Rick-fisher-consulting/96553840
1. Daniel Pineault Post authorFebruary 22, 2020 at 6:06 am
  
  Be careful, a lot of such sites are inaccurate. I know report on my business are completely wrong. Ask yourself where they are getting the data from exactly! Take it with a grain of salt, if that.
Louis March 18, 2020 at 7:50 pm

I found this one. Seems it was build in to replace Rick’s in frustration, might be worth a try:
https://accessdevtools.com/product/find-and-replace/
I haven’t been able to install it yet due to my environment’s security restrictions, so can’t provide any feedback.
1. Daniel Pineault Post authorMarch 18, 2020 at 7:56 pm
  
  Yes, indeed. I recently made an entire post dedicated to it and it showed some serious potential. You can read the whole thing at Access – New Find and Replace for Developers!
John Cropper April 16, 2020 at 8:02 am

Interesting article – thank you, Daniel. For many years I have been using a paid-up copy of Rick Fisher’s Find and Replace and have found it invaluable. Version 9k works just fine in Access 2016 running under Windows 10 except for one increasingly frustrating behaviour – from time to time it just disappears from the Add-Ins menu under Database tools. The related entries in the registry also vanish, as if it has been uninstalled. To get it back, I have to reinstall it again. At first I thought this might be related to an Access or Windows update being installed, but the last time it happened, the Update History did not show any updates during the period since I last used F & R. I would really appreciate it if you have any suggestions as to what the problem might be. Thanks, John.
John Colby April 22, 2023 at 9:58 pm

AFAIK Rick died long ago. His family hasn’t a clue about the program and so his program died with him.
1. Daniel Pineault Post authorApril 22, 2023 at 10:43 pm
  
  Thank you for sharing. Sad news as he had a great product!
  
  I’m going to pass this information along as many MVP that knew him personally were unaware of his passing.
Don Hirst August 9, 2025 at 7:56 pm

Daniel,
I have been using Skrol29’s VTOOLS plugin for several years. It has recently become unusable with current versions of MS365 Access. In looking for alternatives, I found your blog and its information about utteraccess.com, Brent Spaulding, and his Search for Text utility. Do you know anywhere that I might be able to find a copy of that utility or one like it? Thanks for any insight you can provide. DVHirst, Eugene, OR.
1. Daniel Pineault Post authorAugust 9, 2025 at 8:17 pm
  
  Because downloads on UA were behind a login, even wayback archives are useless.
  
  I’ve uploaded a copy that I had on my OneDrive, you are welcome to it. It will however only be there for a few days.
  
  Brent Spaulding – Search for Text utility Download
Don Hirst August 9, 2025 at 8:17 pm

I found your review of ADT’s search and replace add-in. Thanks for that. I’m still looking for a freebie, though, that has functionality like this tool and vtools, as well. Ideas?