Searching for specific data across multiple sheets in a Google Sheets workbook can be challenging, especially when dealing with extensive datasets. Thankfully, Google Sheets offers powerful tools to help you locate the information you need efficiently.

Using the find and replace tool to search across all sheets

The 'Find and replace' feature allows you to search for words or phrases throughout your entire workbook, providing options to refine and customize your search.

Step 1: Open your Google Sheets workbook that contains the data you wish to search.

Step 2: Click on the Edit menu at the top of the screen and select Find and replace from the dropdown list.

Step 3: Alternatively, you can open the 'Find and replace' dialog by pressing Ctrl + H on Windows or Cmd + H on Mac.

Step 4: In the dialog box that appears, enter the word or phrase you're searching for into the Find field. For example, type "Xerox 1891".

Step 5: To ensure the search covers all sheets in your workbook, click on the dropdown menu next to Search and select All sheets.

Step 6: You can refine your search using the options below the Search field:

- Match case: Makes the search case-sensitive, finding only instances that match the exact letter casing of your query.
- Match entire cell contents: Finds cells that exactly match the search term without any extra characters.
- Search using regular expressions: Allows the use of regular expressions for advanced search patterns.
- Also search within formulas: Includes cell formulas in the search.

Step 7: Once you've set your preferences, click the Find button. The first instance of your search term will be highlighted in the workbook.

Step 8: Click Find again to navigate to the next occurrence. Repeat this until you've reviewed all instances. When there are no more matches, a message saying "No more results found, looping around" will appear.

Step 9: If you wish to replace the found text with new content, enter the replacement text in the Replace with field. Click Replace to substitute one occurrence at a time, or Replace all to update every instance in one go.

Step 10: After completing your search and any replacements, click the green Done button to close the dialog box.

Quickly searching within the current sheet

For a rapid search within the active sheet, you can use the 'Find' feature to locate specific words or phrases.

Step 1: Open your Google Sheets document.

Step 2: Press Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on Mac to open the search box. This shortcut works on the desktop version of Google Sheets.

Step 3: In the Find in sheet box that appears at the top-right corner, type the word or phrase you're looking for.

Step 4: As you type, matching text strings will be highlighted within the sheet. Partial matches are shaded in light green, while exact matches are outlined with a black border.

Step 5: Use the up and down arrows next to the search box to navigate through each highlighted cell sequentially.

Step 6: To search in other sheets, simply switch to the desired sheet. The 'Find' feature will continue to highlight matches in the active sheet.

By utilizing these built-in search functionalities, you can efficiently navigate through large Google Sheets workbooks and quickly locate the data you need.