WD: Extend Mode (EXT) Is Unexpectedly Deactivated

ID: Q88775

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SYMPTOMS

After you activate the extend mode feature in Microsoft Word by pressing F8, extend mode may become deactivated if you do any of the following:

You switch to a different document window. (Extend mode is no longer active when you return to the original document window.)
```
    -or-
```
You run the WordBasic SelInfo(20) command in a macro.
```
    -or-
```
You click to select any menu option and then click OK or Cancel.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design in Word. Word changes the status of the Extend command when a new command is chosen.

MORE INFORMATION

When you activate the extend mode feature by pressing F8, the Word status bar displays "EXT." While extend mode is active, Word for Windows selects text when you press directional keys.

ExtendMode() and SelInfo(20) are WordBasic commands that return the status of the extend mode feature. In the following syntax examples, "x" equals 0 (zero) if extend mode is inactive, and "x" equals a non-zero number if extend mode is active:

   x = ExtendMode()
   x = SelInfo(20)

However, if you run these commands in a macro, Word always deactivates extend mode and sets the value of "x" to 0 (zero).

NOTE: Both commands operate correctly, returning the actual status of the extend mode feature if you run the commands by choosing the Step button in the macro-editing window.

REFERENCES

"Using WordBasic," by WexTech Systems and Microsoft, pages 193, 277-279

"Microsoft Word for Windows Users Guide," version 2.0, page 13

Additional query words: extend selection extendselection execute turn off turned stop stopped inactive

Keywords          : kbmacro winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:2.0,2.0a,2.0a- cd,2.0b,2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999