MacroLabs | Debugging the Macro

Before you put your macro files into production, make sure there ain't no bugs or problems to be encountered in the future. But who knows, no system is perfect and we should be prepared to face these things.

Common errors encountered in some types of macro or in any other programs are the 'Index out-of-bound' where usually it occurs in arrays. Check your program which part uses arrays and check the array size in your declaration.

In looking for errors or possible bugs, you must have a keen eye in checking each line so that you wouldn't miss the line and you must understand the logic of the program. There must be a connection with the program and the programmer.

MacroLabs | ActiveDocument vs Documents(filename)

There are two different ways of accessing the objects properties in your macro for a word document. The first one is to use the 'ActiveDocument' object and the other one is the 'Documents(filename)' where you have to specify the file name of the word document.

The difference between them is that the ActiveDocument refers to the Document which is active, as the name defines it. The other one refers to a document, with a specific filenanme, whether active or inactive.

If you are working with processing of large documents, it is recommended to use the 'Document(filename)' so that when you switch application windows, the macro will still work on the same document.

Take the following examples below which counts all tables inside the document:

- ActiveDocument.Tables.Count
- Document('c:\testing.doc').Tables.Count

If your active document refers to C:\testing.doc, it will return the same value. But if your active document refers to another document, the values to be returned will not be the same anymore.

MacroLabs | Converting Document Tables into Text

If you want to convert Microsoft Word Document to a Text file, this code might be able to help you. For example, your doc file contains tables and you want to convert it to formatted text file, follow the procedures below.

Private Sub ConvertTableToText()

Dim tTable As Table

For Each tTable In ActiveDocument.Tables
'this for each loop will check all tables in the document


tTable.ConvertToText Separator:="|", NestedTables:=True
'this will convert the table to text and each cell column will be divided by the "|" character
'you can also use other character to divide each cells

Next

End Sub

'Note: When you record your macro in Microsoft Word, it automatically selects a default separator for your ConvertToText function. Make sure you choose your own separator so that it would not encounter errors when used in other PC's

MacroLabs | Copying contents from a Text File to Document

If you want to create a macro that will copy the contents of a text file to your current document, follow the codes below.

Private Sub Document_Open()

Dim mFileName As String

Dim buffer As String

mFileName = "C:\macfiles\MacroLabs.txt"

Open mFileName For Input As #1

Do While Not EOF(1) ' loop in the file while there's something to read

Line Input #1, buffer ' read a line of text and assign it to variable buffer

Selection.TypeText buffer

Loop

Close #1

End Sub

Well basically, it will just copy the text contents of the text file to your document. You can add additional functions to process the contents and format it.

MacroLabs | Open another file using macro

If you want to open another file or your macro wants to process another file, use these codes below to open the 'Open Dialog Box'. THe file will open after you select it.

Private Sub Document_Open()
'This macro will open a new file using the 'Open Dialog Box'

Dim defDir As String
'variable used which refers to Default Directory you want to set

defDir = "C:\fts"
'you can specify your own directory here

With Application.Dialogs(wdDialogFileOpen)
Options.DefaultFilePath(Path:=wdDocumentsPath) = defDir

If .Display Then
Documents.Open FileName:=.Name
End If

End With
'you can write other codes here

End Sub


Note: Basically the default file type you can open is a ".doc" file.
You can set and filter the file types you want to open using another property.

MacroLabs | The "Document_Open()" Method

We usually want our macro to run as soon as we open our document. To make this happen we use the 'Document_Open()' method which automatically runs any instruction inside this method.

Private Sub Document_Open()
MsgBox "Hello World!"
End Sub

It will depend on you if you want to make it public or private. Just make sure you have typed this code in the 'ThisDocument' Module so that it will run the command when you open the document file.

We can still use modules in creating your macro, but if you need the call the method in the 'ThisDocument' object to make it automatically run.

MacroLabs | Creating Your First Macro

1. To create a new macro file, create a new document in your Microsoft Word Application.

2. Press [alt] + [F11] in your keyboard to open the Visual Basic Editor.

3. From the project list, Click 'ThisDocument' and type the codes below.

Private Sub Document_Open()
Dim msg As String
msg = "Hello World!"
MsgBox msg
End Sub

4. Click the Play Button to run the macro.


Note: If you are kinda familiar with Visual Basic, you would not find it hard to develop macro in MS Word.