# Find and replace

> Search the script, step through matches, and replace one or all — including a character's name across every cue and line of dialogue.

[Try it in Plot](https://app.inkwell.software/projects)

Find is the same idea as in every editor; the detail worth knowing is that it understands the script's structure, so renaming a character changes the cue and the lines that mention her without touching a word that happens to share letters.

1. **Open find**

   Press `⌘F` / `Ctrl+F`. A bar appears above the page with a search box and a match count.

   ![The find bar above the page: the search box (1), Next match (2), and the Replace toggle (3) that opens the second field.](https://www.inkwell.software/help/find-bar.light.webp)

   _The find bar above the page: the search box (1), Next match (2), and the Replace toggle (3) that opens the second field._

2. **Type what you are looking for**

   Matches highlight as you type. Press `Enter` to move to the next match, and `Shift`+`Enter` to go back. Toggle **Match case** and **Whole word** from the bar when a name is also an ordinary word.

3. **Switch to replace**

   Press `⌘⌥F` / `Ctrl+Alt+F` or `Ctrl+H` to open the replace field, or select the **Replace** toggle at the left of the bar. (On Windows and Linux the same bar also answers `Control`+`H`.)

4. **Replace one, or all**

   **Replace** changes the current match and moves on; **Replace all** changes every match at once. Replacing all is a single undo, so `Mod`+`Z` takes the whole thing back.

5. **Close the bar**

   Press `Escape`. The highlights clear and the cursor stays where you left it.

> **Tip: Renaming a character**
>
> The Cast tab renames a character everywhere in one action, with the count of cues it will change shown first. It is quicker than find and replace for that one job — see [The cast list](https://www.inkwell.software/help/writing/the-cast-list).

## What next

- [The cast list](https://www.inkwell.software/help/writing/the-cast-list): Every speaking character in the script, with how much they say and where — and a rename that changes every cue at once.
- [Keyboard shortcuts](https://www.inkwell.software/help/reference/keyboard-shortcuts): Every shortcut in Plot, for macOS and for Windows and Linux, grouped by what it does.

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Canonical page: <https://www.inkwell.software/help/writing/find-and-replace>