MSWord Macro Examples

Note: The following macro examples use the older MSDWord script language and not the current VBA. If you are creating Winhelp files from scratch then you are most likely using an older version of MSWord as as you authoring tool.

The following simple example inserts a browse footnote:

Sub MAIN
InsertFootnote .Reference = "+", .NoteType = 0
End Sub

A more useful example is Paul A. O'Rear's GetContextStrings macro. It will compile a list of context strings from your *rtf document that can be used in the [MAP] section of the project file. When you run it, make sure Word is in "normal" view mode.

Sub MAIN

'GetContextStrings - Macro for extracting a list of context strings 'from a document formatted for help.
'Paul A. O'Rear - Helpful Solutions, 7/97

'Create a variable storing the name of the source document.

srcDoc$ = WindowName$()

'Create a new document and save it with the name "contexts.doc" and 'store the name in a variable.

FileNew

FileSaveAs .Name = "contexts.doc"

ctxDoc$ = WindowName$()

'Arrange all the windows so you can see the progress.

WindowArrangeAll

'Activate the source document.

Activate srcDoc$

'Go to the start of the document

StartOfDocument

'Make sure footnote pane is open.

If Not ViewFootnotes() Then ViewFootnotes()

'Make sure cursor is in Footnote pane and at the beginning.

If WindowPane() <> 3 Then OtherPane

StartOfDocument

'Find the first # sign with the Footnote Reference style; this may need 'to be changed to search for the Endnote Reference style depending on 'which you use. Use a quote to disable the one you don't use.

'Make sure find formatting options are cleared first.

EditFindClearFormatting

EditFindStyle .Style = "Footnote Reference"

'EditFindStyle .Style = "Endnote Reference"

EditFind .Find = "#"

'Cycle through a loop that collects the context string and pastes it 'into the "contexts.doc" and continues on until there are no more 'context string footnotes.

While EditFindFound()

'Ddeselect footnote and skip initial space

CharRight 2

'Select the rest of the paragraph; note: don't use EndOfLine for

'Things like this because you may lose some of the info you want.

'If the line wraps.

ParaDown 1, 1

'Copy the context string and deselect it.

EditCopy

CharRight 1

'Activate "contexts.doc" and insert the context string.

Activate ctxDoc$

EditPaste

'Activate srcDoc in the footnote pane and find the next context.

'String to start the loop over again.

Activate srcDoc$, 3

EditFind

Wend

End Sub

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