Writing Word Macros, Second Edition

Examples

To illustrate the use of AutoShapes, the code in Example B-3 inserts a dampened sine curve of small stars in the drawing layer. The output from this code is shown in Figure B-7.

Example B-3. The DrawSine2 Subroutine

Sub DrawSine2()

' Dampened sine wave of small stars

Const pi = 3.1416

Dim i As Integer
Dim x As Single, y As Single
Dim rng As Range     ' For starting point 
Dim n As Single      ' Cycle length in inches
Dim k As Integer     ' k stars 
Dim ScaleY As Single ' Vertical scaling
Dim sSize As Single  ' Star size
Dim sDamp1 As Single  ' Dampening factor
Dim sDamp2 As Single  ' Dampening factor
Dim cCycles As Integer  ' Number of cycles
Dim sh As Shape

cCycles = 3
sDamp1 = 1
sDamp2 = 0.2
n = 2
k = 20
ScaleY = 0.5 
sSize = InchesToPoints(0.1)

' Start at insertion point 
Set rng = Selection.Range

' Loop for first curve with phase shift
For i = 1 To cCycles * k 
   x = n * i / k 
   y = ScaleY * Sin((2 * pi * i) / k + n) * _
      (sDamp1 / (x + sDamp2))
   y = InchesToPoints(y)
   x = InchesToPoints(x)
   Set sh = ActiveDocument.Shapes.AddShape _
      (msoShape5pointStar, x, y, sSize, sSize, rng)
   sh.Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(192, 192, 192) ' 25% gray
   sh.Fill.Visible = msoTrue
Next i

End Sub

Figure B-7. A dampened sine wave of stars

The code in Example B-4 produces a random series of stars, each containing a single letter that together spells a name. Note that each time the program is run, the pattern is different. One output ...