Sub UpdateDocuments()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim strInFolder As String, strOutFold As String, strFile As String, wdDoc As Document
strInFolder = GetFolder
If strInFolder = "" Then Exit Sub
strFile = Dir(strInFolder & "\*.doc", vbNormal)
'Check for documents in the folder - exit if none found
If strFile <> "" Then strOutFold = strInFolder & "\Output\"
'Test for an existing outpfolder & create one if it doesn't already exist
If Dir(strOutFold, vbDirectory) = "" Then MkDir strOutFold
strFile = Dir(strInFolder & "\*.doc", vbNormal)
While strFile <> ""
  Set wdDoc = Documents.Open(FileName:=strInFolder & "\" & strFile, AddToRecentFiles:=False, ReadOnly:=True, Visible:=False)
  With wdDoc
    With .Range.Find
      .ClearFormatting
      .Replacement.ClearFormatting
      .Forward = True
      .Wrap = wdFindContinue
      .Format = False
      .MatchCase = False
      .MatchWholeWord = False
      .MatchWildcards = False
      .MatchSoundsLike = False
      .MatchAllWordForms = False
      .Text = "["
      .Replacement.Text = " ~"
      .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
      .Text = "]"
      .Replacement.Text = "~"
      .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
      .MatchWildcards = True
      .Text = "~*~"
      .Replacement.Text = " "
      .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
    'Save and close the document
    .SaveAs FileName:=strOutFold & .Name, AddToRecentFiles:=False
    .Close
  End With
  strFile = Dir()
Wend
Set wdDoc = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub 
 
Function GetFolder() As String
Dim oFolder As Object
GetFolder = ""
Set oFolder = CreateObject("Shell.Application").BrowseForFolder(0, "Choose a folder", 0)
If (Not oFolder Is Nothing) Then GetFolder = oFolder.Items.Item.Path
Set oFolder = Nothing
End Function