WD98: How to Pass a Parameter to a Macro Using Automation

ID: Q185168

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

This article discusses a method you can use to pass a parameter to a Microsoft Word Visual Basic for Applications macro when using automation from another application.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

To pass a parameter to a Word Visual Basic for Applications macro using automation you will need to move your Word macro code to the ThisDocument Object module of the document or template containing the macro you are calling.

To move your macro to the ThisDocument module, follow these steps:

1. Open the document or template containing the macro you are calling.

2. Press OPTION+F11 to open the Word Visual Basic for Applications Editor.

3. Select the macro you want to move or copy.

4. On the Edit menu click Copy to copy your macro or click Cut to move your

   macro.

5. In the Project Explorer, double-click the document or template project

   to view "Microsoft Word Objects."

6. Double-click "Microsoft Word Objects," and then double-click

   "ThisDocument."

7. Click in the "ThisDocument" code window.

8. On the Edit menu click Paste to paste your code into the ThisDocument

   Object module. For example, if the following macro existed in Word,
   paste it into the ThisDocument Object module:

      Sub MyWordMacro(strPassedParam As String)
         MsgBox strPassedParam
      End Sub

In the application you are using to automate Word, you can use one of the following example macros to call and pass a parameter to your Word macro.

Accessing Your Word Macro by Directly Opening a Document or Template

Use the following macro to open a document template or a document "based" on a template containing your Word macro.

   Sub AutomateWord_OpenDoc()
      Dim wrdApp As Object
      Dim wrdDoc As Object
      Dim strFileName As String
      Set wrdApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")

      On Error GoTo DocError

      ' Replace the following example string value with the path and
        file name of the document or template containing your macro.
      strFileName = "<Path and Filename of document or template>"

      ' Open the document or template and set a variable equal to the
      ' document or template.
      Set wrdDoc = wrdApp.Documents.Open(strFileName)

      ' Run the macro. (Replace "MyWordMacro" with the name of your macro.)
      wrdDoc.MyWordMacro ("This is a test.")

   DocError:
      If Err.Number <> 0 Then Msgbox Err.Description

      ' Quit this instance of Word.
      wrdApp.Quit

      ' Clear variable memory.
      Set wrdApp = Nothing
      Set wrdDoc = Nothing

   End Sub

Accessing a Document Based on the Template Containing Your Macro

Use the following macro to create a new blank document "based" on a template containing your Word macro.

   Sub AutomateWord_OpenDoc()
      Dim wrdApp As Object
      Dim wrdDoc As Object
      Dim strFileName As String
      Set wrdApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")

      On Error GoTo DocError

      ' Replace the following example string value with the path and
        file name of the template containing your macro.
      strFileName = "<Path and Filename of template>"

      ' Open the document and set a variable equal to a new blank
      ' document and it's underlying template.
      Set wrdDoc = wrdApp.Documents.Add(szTemplateFileName)

      ' Run the macro. (Replace "MyWordMacro" with the name of your macro.)
      wrdDoc.MyWordMacro ("This is a test.")

   DocError:
      If Err.Number <> 0 Then Msgbox Err.Description

      ' Quit this instance of Word.
      wrdApp.Quit

      ' Clear variable memory.
      Set wrdApp = Nothing
      Set wrdDoc = Nothing

   End Sub

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q181058
   TITLE     : OFF98: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for 
               Applications

Additional query words: wordcon vba vb vbe OLE

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Hardware          : MAC
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999