Finding a phrase in a string variable - excel

Question

I am trying to find a phrase inside of a variable that contains html. I then want to replace it with a new phrase.
I tried InStr but the phrase is not found. I also tried using wildcards at tht beginning and end of the phrase. I also tried doing an if like also with and without wildcards.
The purpose is to allow a tester to do a batch change on expected results and/or test steps by entering a sentence or phrase they want changed.
The only problem I'm having is being able to programmatically find the sentence within the variable.
Problem area is in bold
Dim qcURL As String
Dim qcID As String
Dim qcPWD As String
Dim qcDomain As String
Dim qcProject As String
Dim preActVal As String
Dim postActVal As String
Dim FindSt As String
Dim currentString As String
Dim thisSheet As Worksheet
'Toggle debugging mode'
Dim isDebugOn As Boolean
isDebugOn = True 'set to true to turn off Active X
''On Error GoTo ErrHandler:
FOLDER_PATH = "BAT\PC2P - Claims - Med"
Set thisSheet = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("ShellUpdater")
TestID = thisSheet.Range("B1").Value
stField = thisSheet.Range("B2").Value
**FindSt = thisSheet.Range("B3").Value**
ReplaceSt = thisSheet.Range("B4").Value
testLocation = thisSheet.Range("B5").Value
'ActiveX Forms
If isDebugOn = False Then
'qcURL = GetOptionMetric("qcURL", 1, "Enter ALM URL") ''popup to get url from user
qcURL = "<<URL>>"
'qcDomain = GetOptionMetric("qcDomain", 1, "Enter your ALM Domain")
''popup to get domain from user
qcDomain = "<<DOMAIN>>"
'qcProject = GetOptionMetric("qcProject", 1, "Enter your ALM Project")
''popup to get project from user
qcProject = "<<PROJECT>>"
qcID = GetOptionMetric("qcID", 1, "Enter your ALM MSID")
qcPWD = GetOptionPassword("qcPWD", 1, "Enter your ALM Password")
Else
qcURL = "<<URL>>"
qcID = "<<USERNAME>>"
qcDomain = "<<DOMAIN>>"
qcProject = "<<PROJECT>>"
qcPWD = InputBox("THIS IS IN DEEBUG MODE")
If qcPWD = vbNullString Then Exit Sub
If qcPWD = "" Then Exit Sub
End If
'END ActiveX Forms
'Connect to ALM
Set tdConnection = CreateObject("TDApiOle80.TDConnection")
tdConnection.InitConnectionEx qcURL
tdConnection.Login qcID, qcPWD
tdConnection.Connect qcDomain, qcProject
''Check if batch updating or single case
Dim testObject As ITest
If InStr(TestID, "All") > 0 Then
Dim TestFact As testFactory
Set tMng = tdConnection.TreeManager
Set srcFolder = tMng.NodeByPath("Subject\" & testLocation)
Set tstFact = srcFolder.testFactory
Set tstList = tstFact.NewList("")
For Each shellTest In tstList
Set DSFact = shellTest.DesignStepFactory.NewList("")
For Each dStep In DSFact
Select Case stField
Case "StepExpectedResult"
**currentString = dStep.StepExpectedResult**
**stposition = InStr(currentString, FindSt)**
If stposition > 0 Then
dStep.StepExpectedResult = preActVal & Replace(currentString, FindSt, ReplaceSt) & postActVal
End If
Case "StepDescription"
currentString = dStep.StepDescription
stposition = InStr(currentString, FindSt)
If stposition > 0 Then
dStep.StepDescription = preActVal & Replace(currentString, FindSt, ReplaceSt) & postActVal
End If
End Select
dStep.Post
Next dStep
Next shellTest
Else
Dim myTest
'Find the Test in test plan
Set thisTest = GetTest(Trim(TestID), testLocation, "\")
Set myTest = tdConnection.testFactory.Item(TestID)
End If

Answer 1

Try this:
Sub replace_string()
FindSt = "but also need rendering provider first name"
ReplaceString = "I LIKE BANANAS"
currentString = "All fields populate from the correctly populated provider<<<\!Renderingproviderlastname>>>, but also need rendering provider first name"
stPosition = Replace(currentString, FindSt, ReplaceString)
MsgBox stPosition
End Sub