search replace in Word from Python

[greg munger]

I have a simple perl script that uses the COM interface to convert a few 
MS Word styles to html (based on word2pod.pl by Jan Dubois). I would 
rather use Python than Perl, but I can't get one thing to work in Python.

At one point I do the following (in Perl):

    my $Search = $Doc->Content->Find;
    my $Replace = $Search->Replacement;
    $Search->Clearformatting;
    $Replace->Clearformatting;
    # convert bold styles
    $Search->Font->{Bold} = 1;
    $Replace->{Text} = '<b>^&</b>';
    $Search->Execute({Replace => wdReplaceAll});
    # convert italic
    $Replace->Clearformatting;
    $Search->Clearformatting;
    $Search->Font->{Italic} = 1;
    $Replace->{Text} = '<i>^&</i>';
    $Search->Execute({Replace => wdReplaceAll});

This modifies the current document, then I read it and print it 
preserving this formatting.

I have been trying to get the equivalent code to work with Python. I did 
run the MakePy utility to generate the COM constants. In the example 
below I used a constant for the Bold replacement, and used the value for 
the italic replacement. I don't get an error, but I don't see any bold or 
italic elements either.

def fixStyles( doc):
	search = doc.Content.Find
	replace = search.Replacement
	search.ClearFormatting();
	replace.ClearFormatting();
	
	search.Font.Bold = 1
	replace.Text = "<b>^&,</b>"
	search.Execute( Replace = constants.wdReplaceAll)
	search.ClearFormatting();
	replace.ClearFormatting();
	
	search.Font.Italic = 1
	replace.Text = "<i>^&,</i>"
	search.Execute( Replace = 2)
	search.ClearFormatting();
	replace.ClearFormatting();
	

Can anyone see what I am doing wrong?

thanks,

Greg Munger