Re: [libreoffice-users] Correcting a formatting error.

Robert,

LO Writer AutoCorrect has various options with : preceeding and closing the Replace item but this does 
not presently include :---:.  Instead '---' (without quotes) is a standard shortcut for autocorrect  to 
print a long dash and even '--' to print a shorter dash.  I used to use them a lot but checking today, 
they only work for me if  Tools > AutoCorrect > Apply is clicked (even though 'While Typing' was 
already checked).

If the unwanted collection of characters is selected and Ctrl+H is used to open the find and 
replace dialog, the highlighted choice is automatically placed in the Find box.  If I want to 
replace it with a small variation (like omitting a space) I copy paste the Find entry into the 
Replace box and make the necessary edit. Then Find and Replace works as it should.

Philip



On 11/07/2026 05:27, Robert Funnell wrote:
> Chris -
>
> I'm not familiar with the syntax :---: for a long dash, and as far as I know LO Writer is not 
> familiar with it. Where is that documented?
>
> Have you tried just highlighting an example of the characters you want to replace before doing File 
> > Find and Replace?
>
> - Robert
>
> On 2026-07-10 22:18, Chris J. wrote:
> > On 7/10/26 19:49, Robert Funnell wrote:
> > > Please respond to the list and not directly to me.
> > >
> > > On 2026-07-10 19:43, Chris J. wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > > Chris -
> > > > >
> > > > > When you search for " :-" sans quotes, is that a hyphen in the search or a long dash?
> > > >
> > > > actual dash since I used :---: for the special character.
> > > >
> > > > > If you highlight the text you want to search for and then do Edit > Find and Replace, the 
> > > > > highlighted text should appear in the Find field, and should be found.
> > > > >
> > > > > The Google suggestion doesn't make sense to me, and regular expressions shouldn't be involved for 
> > > > > this.
> > > > >
> > > > > - Robert
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Chris Johnson rchristopherjohnson@gmail.com
> > > > Ex SysAdmin, now, writer     /It is a capital crime to theorise before one has data./
> > > > (Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Homes)

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