WD98: Writing Macro Code for VBA and WordBasic Branching

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers 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 requirements. In the versions of Word listed at the beginning of this article, WordBasic has been replaced with Visual Basic for Applications. For backward compatibility, Visual Basic for Applications contains a WordBasic object. To ensure that the WordBasic command and arguments are positioned correctly, use the Position.hlp file for Word for Windows version 6.x.

NOTE: If your programming language was written to call WordBasic commands, and you are anticipating interacting with the Microsoft Word Visual Basic for Applications language for all future development needs, you should convert your code from WordBasic to Microsoft Word Visual Basic for Applications.

   ' ******************************************************************
   ' MODULE NAME: Coding For WordBasic or Visual Basic Based on Version
   ' DECLARATIONS SECTION
   ' ******************************************************************
   Dim oWordWB As Object
   Dim oWordVBA As Object

   ' The GetWordVersion routine creates a WordBasic object. It then
   ' determines the currently installed version of Word.
   ' If the version is earlier than Word 97, it branches to use a
   ' WordBasic Code" routine. If the version is Word 97 or later, it
   ' branches to use a Visual Basic for Applications routine. If Word is
   ' not currently installed, an error is trapped and the program displays
   ' a message and ends.

   Sub GetWordVersion ()

      ' *******************************************************
      ' PURPOSE: To determine the Word version and branch
      '          conditionally based on the version returned.
      '
      ' ARGUMENTS:
      '           oWordWB - WordBasic Object
      ' *******************************************************

      On Error GoTo NoWord
      Set oWOBJ = CreateObject("Word.basic")

      If Val(oWOBJ.AppInfo(2)) < 8 Then

         ' If earlier than version 8, branch to WordBasic code.
         UseWordBasicCode

      Else

         ' If version 8 or later, branch to Visual Basic for
         ' Applications code.
         UseVBACode

      End If

   NoWord:
      If Err <> 0 then
         MsgBox "Word is not installed."
         End
      End If
   End Sub

      Sub UseVBACode ()

         ' *********************************************************
         ' PURPOSE: Used for Visual Basic For Applications commands.
         '
         ' ARGUMENTS:
         '           oWordWB  - WordBasic Object
         '           oWordVBA - Visual Basic for Applications Object
         ' *********************************************************

         ' Close the WordBasic object that was used to determine the
         ' Word version.
         oWordWB.FileExit
         Set oWordWB = Nothing

         ' Create a Word Visual Basic for Applications object.
         Set oWordVBA = CreateObject("Word.Application")

         ' ***********************************************
         ' < Visual Basic For Applications Commands Here >
         ' ***********************************************

         ' When quitting an Automation session with Visual Basic for
         ' Applications, you must use the Quit command in combination with
         ' setting the object to Nothing to clear the instance from memory.
         oWordVBA.Quit
         Set oWordVBA = Nothing

      End Sub

      Sub UseWordBasicCode ()

         ' *************************************
         ' PURPOSE: Used for WordBasic commands.
         '
         ' ARGUMENTS:
         '           oWordWB - WordBasic Object
         ' *************************************

         ' **************************
         ' < WordBasic Commands Here>
         ' **************************

         ' Close the instance of Word.
         oWordWB.FileExit

         ' Clear the object from memory.
         Set oWordWB = Nothing

      End Sub