This can be done quite easily via a macro. For example, the following macro allows you to browse to a folder containing the documents you want to process, then replace a given string in all documents in that folder automatically.
Code:
Sub UpdateDocuments()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim strFolder As String, strFile As String, wdDoc As Document, Sctn As Section, HdFt As HeaderFooter
strFolder = GetFolder
If strFolder = "" Then Exit Sub
strFile = Dir(strFolder & "\*.doc", vbNormal)
While strFile <> ""
Set wdDoc = Documents.Open(FileName:=strFolder & "\" & strFile, AddToRecentFiles:=False, Visible:=False)
With wdDoc
For Each Sctn In .Sections
For Each HdFt In Sctn.Headers
If HdFt.LinkToPrevious = False Then
With HdFt.Range.Find
.ClearFormatting
.Text = "Old Header Text"
.Replacement.Text = "New Header Text"
.Forward = True
.Wrap = wdFindStop
.Format = False
.MatchCase = True
.MatchWholeWord = True
.MatchWildcards = False
.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
End With
End If
Next
For Each HdFt In Sctn.Footers
If HdFt.LinkToPrevious = False Then
With HdFt.Range.Find
.ClearFormatting
.Text = "Old Footer Text"
.Replacement.Text = "New Footer Text"
.Forward = True
.Wrap = wdFindStop
.Format = False
.MatchCase = True
.MatchWholeWord = True
.MatchWildcards = False
.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
End With
End If
Next
Next
.Close SaveChanges:=True
End With
strFile = Dir()
Wend
Set wdDoc = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
Function GetFolder() As String
Dim oFolder As Object
GetFolder = ""
Set oFolder = CreateObject("Shell.Application").BrowseForFolder(0, "Choose a folder", 0)
If (Not oFolder Is Nothing) Then GetFolder = oFolder.Items.Item.Path
Set oFolder = Nothing
End Function
For macro installation & usage instructions, see:
http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm