How can you search for all instances of a number format in a 2013 MS Word document such as 32.3426833, -90.1381667 where the numbers differ and they may or may not be prefaced with a negative sign? These are decimal degree coordinates of the earth. I need to locate all such in three separate word documents that are in excess of 200 pages.

• Replace using wildcards by Graham Mayor, MVP
• Wildcard Cookbook for Microsoft Word: Jack Lyon: 9781434103987: Amazon.com: Books
  (The above, in an earlier 2002 version, may be available from the Editorium as a free download.)
• A pdf with Wildcard codes from the Editorium
  (Here's a temporary link to a revision of the above in a slightly different format.)

Will the numbers always have seven digits following the decimal point? Is the pattern always ##.#######?

Wildcards work on the Find function to give you multiple options. The following pattern should get you to these numbers although it may pick up others and should not be used for replace because it may not pick up the entire number.
Someone else (like Graham), better versed in use of wildcards, may come along and give you the exact pattern you need. This is a useful tool to know.

As explained at Convert Coordinates - Calculate a position in a variety of formats, there is a wide variety of latitude/longitude and position formats. Which format was used in your document? Was it consistent?

Thanks, Charles and Robert, for your help. This search [0-9]{1,3}.[0-9]{7} works very well for what I need.