Help Needed: Best Method to Search for <text> Element Usage in DITA Repository

We’re currently looking into the best way to search for a DITA element across the repository—specifically, how often and where the <text> element is used in our DITA files.

While testing different search inputs, I’ve noticed some inconsistent behavior:

  • When I enter "<text cid" in the Find in field, no results appear.
  • When I enter (without quotes), the search returns a few topics that do contain the <text> element, but the remaining topics in the results list don’t include any instance of <text or text in their markup.
  • If I simply enter text, the first few topics contain the word text in the body content, but there is no <text> element in the topic coding.

We’re trying to determine the most effective way to identify all actual uses of the <text> element in the repository.

Would you please advise on the correct search syntax or best approach for locating specific DITA elements in the DITA coding of a topic? Any tips or known limitations with the search function would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best.

Christina



Removed AI Suggestion
[edited by: Christina Rothwell at 6:48 PM (GMT 0) on 22 Jan 2026]
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  • Probability score: 0.7  

    Question improvement suggestion: Provide specific examples of the DITA elements you are searching for and clarify the search tool or method you are using.  

    In the meantime, based on the information you have provided, here is a suggested answer to your question:  

    Hello Christina,

    To effectively search for a specific DITA element across your repository, you can follow these steps:

    **Step 1:** **Use the Correct Search Syntax**  

    When searching for a specific DITA element, ensure you are using the correct syntax. For example, if you are looking for a specific element like `<title>`, you should enclose it in quotes for an exact match: `"title"`.

    **Step 2:** **Utilize Wildcards**  

    If you are unsure of the exact element name or want to include variations, use wildcards. For instance, you can use `*title*` to find any instance of elements that contain "title" in their names.

    **Step 3:** **Check for Inconsistencies**  

    If you notice that the search results do not include instances of the element in the topic coding, double-check the search settings. Ensure that you are searching in the correct scope (e.g., all files, specific folders) and that there are no filters applied that might exclude certain results.

    **Step 4:** **Consider XPath for Advanced Searches**  

    If you are familiar with XPath, you can create more complex queries to locate elements based on their attributes or hierarchy. For example, to find all `<title>` elements within a specific parent, you could use an XPath expression like `//parentElement/title`.

    **Step 5:** **Review Search Limitations**  

    Be aware of any limitations of the search function you are using. Some tools may not index certain types of content or may have restrictions on searching within tags. Consult the documentation for the specific tool you are using to understand its capabilities.

    **Step 6:** **Test Different Approaches**  

    If you continue to experience inconsistent results, try different search methods or tools. For example, if you are using a specific DITA authoring tool, check if it has built-in search functionalities that might yield better results.

    By following these steps, you should be able to improve your search for DITA elements across your repository. If you have any specific examples or further details about the search tool you are using, feel free to share, and I can provide more tailored advice.

    I hope this answer addressed your question. If not, please reject the answer, add the question improvement suggestion information, and click the RWS Community AI checkbox on the right to try again.  

    RWS Community AI

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  • I tried using //text in the Find in box and it did not work. How can I use the Search feature to find the <text> element in the Repository? 

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