CorelDRAW Find and Replace Wizard Steps

CorelDRAW includes a dedicated Find and Replace tool designed to locate and modify specific design elements across complex vector projects. This article outlines the step-by-step process of using the Find and Replace Object wizard to search for object types, adjust properties, and substitute attributes such as fills, outlines, and text formatting efficiently.

Accessing the Find and Replace Feature

  1. Open your project in CorelDRAW.
  2. Navigate to the top menu bar and select Edit.
  3. Hover over Find and Replace.
  4. Choose either Find Objects to locate elements or Replace Objects to modify them directly.

Steps for the Find Objects Wizard

When choosing to locate specific vector elements without immediately altering them, the wizard guides you through the following sequence:

  1. Select Search Initiation Method
    Choose to Begin a New Search to define custom parameters from scratch, or choose Load a Search from Disk if you have a previously saved search query file (.srq). Click Next.

  2. Choose Object Types
    Select the broad categories of objects to search for, such as curves, rectangles, ellipses, text, or symbols. You can also specify special effects like contours, drop shadows, or blends. Click Next.

  3. Define Object Properties
    Narrow down the search criteria by checking specific properties:

    • Fills: Uniform, fountain, pattern, or texture fills.
    • Outlines: Outline color, line weight, scale with image, or dash patterns.
    • Fills/Outlines Color Palettes: Specific color models (CMYK, RGB, Pantone).

  4. Set Property Values
    Configure the exact details for each selected property (for example, targeting objects with an outline width greater than 1.0 pt or an RGB black fill). Click Next.

  5. Save the Search (Optional)
    The wizard provides an option to save your search criteria as a reusable file for future projects. Click Finish.

  6. Execute the Search
    A control bar appears with navigation buttons:

    • Find Next: Selects the next object matching your parameters.
    • Find Previous: Selects the prior matching object.
    • Find All: Highlights every matching object across the page or document simultaneously.

Steps for the Replace Objects Wizard

To swap out design attributes globally across a document, use the Replace workflow:

  1. Select Replacement Type
    In the wizard prompt, select what you wish to replace:

    • Replace a Color: Swap specific fill or outline colors across chosen color models.
    • Replace a Color Model or Palette: Convert colors from one color model (such as RGB) to another (such as CMYK).
    • Replace Outline Pen Properties: Change line widths, units of measurement, or scaling options.
    • Replace Text Properties: Modify font families, styles, or font sizes globally. Click Next.

  2. Specify Existing Attributes
    Identify the target parameters currently present in your artwork that need changing (for example, an existing Pantone swatch or a 0.5 mm line weight).

  3. Define New Attributes
    Enter or select the replacement properties (for example, the new destination color, palette, or line thickness).

  4. Set the Scope
    Specify where the replacement applies:

    • Apply to fills, outlines, or both.
    • Apply to the current page or the entire document.

  5. Execute the Replacement
    Click Finish to bring up the execution controls:

    • Find Next: Locates the next eligible object.
    • Replace: Modifies the currently selected target object.
    • Replace All: Changes every matching object in the document in a single action.