Skip to main content

How to Search and Fix Formulas in Excel

Learn how to find and replace parts of formulas across multiple worksheets using Excel's Find and Replace feature.

When to Use This​

Use Find and Replace for formulas when you need to:

  • Update a formula used across multiple columns
  • Fix recurring formula errors
  • Change column references in bulk
  • Update function names throughout the workbook

The Scenario​

You've used a formula in several attribute sets and different columns. Now you need to change part of the formula without manually editing every cell.

Step-by-Step: Search and Replace Formulas​

Step 1: Open Find and Replace​

Press Ctrl+F or go to Home > Find & Select > Replace.

Step 2: Configure Search Settings​

In the Find and Replace dialog:

  1. Browse: Set to Workbook (searches all sheets)
  2. Search in: Set to Formulas (not Values or Comments)

Step 3: Enter Search Criteria​

In the "Find what" field, enter the formula part you want to change.

Example: If you want to change all references from [@Price] to [@Cost], enter:

[@Price]

Step 4: Preview Changes​

Click Find All to see all affected cells before making changes.

Important: Review this list carefully to ensure you're only changing what you intend to change.

Step 5: Enter Replacement​

In the "Replace with" field, enter the new formula part.

Example:

[@Cost]

Step 6: Replace All​

Once you've verified the preview, click Replace All.

Common Use Cases​

Update Column References​

Find: [@[Old Column Name]] Replace: [@[New Column Name]]

Updates all formulas referencing the old column.

Fix Function Names​

Find: VLOOKUP Replace: XLOOKUP

Updates all VLOOKUP functions to XLOOKUP (if available).

Change Calculation Method​

Find: *1.2 Replace: *1.3

Changes markup from 20% to 30% across all formulas.

Update Sheet References​

Find: Sheet1! Replace: PriceList!

Updates all references to point to a renamed sheet.

Tips for Safe Replacement​

1. Always Preview First​

Click Find All before Replace All to see what will change.

2. Be Specific​

Use unique text to avoid unintended replacements:

Bad: Find "Price" (too general, might match "Special Price", "Price From", etc.) Good: Find "[@Price]" (specific column reference)

3. Work on One Sheet​

Set "Within" to "Sheet" if you only want to change formulas in the current worksheet.

4. Save Before Replacing​

Save your workbook before doing bulk replacements. You can undo (Ctrl+Z) if something goes wrong, but saving provides an extra safety net.

5. Test on Sample Data​

If unsure, create a copy of the workbook and test the replacement there first.

Advanced Search Options​

Match Case​

Check "Match case" to distinguish between:

  • [@price] vs [@Price]

Match Entire Cell Contents​

Check "Match entire cell contents" to replace only exact matches.

Example: Find "Price" with this option will only replace cells containing exactly "Price", not "[@Price]*1.2".

Search by Format​

Click "Options >>" to reveal more settings:

  • Search by cell format
  • Search within comments
  • Search by rows or columns

Examples​

Example 1: Fix Rounded Prices​

Scenario: All prices use ROUND with 2 decimals, but you need 4 decimals.

Find: ;2) Replace: ;4)

This changes all ROUND(...;2) to ROUND(...;4).

Example 2: Add IFERROR​

Scenario: Add error handling to all VLOOKUP formulas.

Find: =VLOOKUP( Replace: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(

Then search for the end of VLOOKUP formulas and add the closing parenthesis.

Example 3: Update Markup Rate​

Scenario: Change markup from 40% to 45%.

Find: *1.4 Replace: *1.45

Troubleshooting​

No results found?

  • Verify "Search in" is set to "Formulas"
  • Check "Within" is set to "Workbook" (not just one sheet)
  • Make sure your search text matches exactly (check spaces, brackets)

Too many results?

  • Your search text is too general
  • Be more specific (include brackets, operators, etc.)
  • Consider searching one sheet at a time

Replacement broke formulas?

  • Check for #NAME! or #REF! errors
  • Undo with Ctrl+Z
  • Review the preview list more carefully
  • Test on a copy first

Can't find formula text?

  • You may be searching "Values" instead of "Formulas"
  • Change "Search in" to "Formulas"

Best Practices​

Use Descriptive Column Names​

Well-named columns make formulas easier to search and replace:

Good: [@[Purchase Price]], [@[Sales Price]] Bad: [@Price1], [@Price2]

Document Formula Changes​

Keep a log of formula updates, especially in shared workbooks:

  • What was changed
  • When it was changed
  • Why it was changed

Test After Replacing​

  1. Check a few affected cells manually
  2. Verify calculations are correct
  3. Save products and test in your store

Consider Templates​

If you frequently change formulas, save templates in cobby with the correct formulas already in place.

  • Formulas in cobby: How to enable and use formulas (coming soon)
  • Templates: Save formula configurations (coming soon)
  • Error handling: Use IFERROR and IFISEMPTY (coming soon)