we are not using the vault and I was wondering if there was a way to change our material database with out going in individually to every part and changing the material.  We have thousands of parts and they are not saved in a collective folders so there is no easy macro to make that would change the material names.  I am wondering mainly for the database if there is a way to change the material and it link to the original material to change to 

ex "1/4-304 stainless steal" to "1/4 304 SS"

any help would be greatly appreciated.