Word Hacks

Chapter 7. Macro Hacks

Introduction: Hacks #57-69

When it comes to hacking Word, VBA macros are often the answer. From automating routine tasks to redefining Word’s behavior, macros are a potent weapon in your Word arsenal. The hacks in this chapter show several ways to move beyond basic automation, as well as how to make your macros faster, friendlier, and more flexible.

Get Simple User Input for a Macro

Macros that interact with the user can be very useful. This hack shows you how to get feedback from a user without the overhead or complexity of a VBA UserForm.

When you get input from a user (often yourself), you may want to present the person with several choices. You can use a UserForm with radio buttons or checkboxes, but it might add unnecessary overhead and complexity. Instead, use the dialogs already built into VBA, such as the MsgBox and InputBox.

For example, if you just need the user to select between two choices—say, “Red” or “Blue”—you could display a standard MsgBox with its included “Yes” and “No” buttons. The following macro displays the dialog shown in Figure 7-1:

Sub PickRedOrBluePlease( )
Dim lResponse As Long
lResponse = MsgBox(Prompt:="Press Yes for Red, Press No for Blue", _
                   Buttons:=vbYesNo, _
                   Title:="Pick a color")
If lResponse = vbYes Then
    MsgBox "You picked Red"
Else
    MsgBox "You picked Blue"
End If
End Sub

Figure 7-1. Hack VBA’s built-in dialogs to get simple ...