Convert raw field codes to plain text and back again

ugcheleuce · #1 02-12-2017, 08:13 AM

Hello everyone

Is there a way to convert raw field codes to plain text, and later back again to field codes? I'm using Word 2003, but a solution for Word 2016 would also be fine.

What I mean is this:

Suppose you add a SYMBOL field code with the value of 111. If field code display is disabled, it will show up as the letter "o", but if field code display is enabled, it will show up as { SYMBOL 111 \* MERGEFORMAT }.

I want to convert the "{ SYMBOL 111 \* MERGEFORMAT }" to plain text (so that I can save the file as TXT, for example). Then, later, I want to open the TXT file in Word and convert the "{ SYMBOL 111 \* MERGEFORMAT }" text into an actual field code.

I want to do this because I want to process a certain type of MS Word file in an external program that handles only plain text files.

Thanks!
Samuel

macropod · #2 02-12-2017, 04:19 PM

To convert field codes to text, you could use the following macro:

Code:

Sub FldCodeToStr()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim StrFld As String, StrTxt As String, StrChr As String, bFldShw As Boolean, i As Long
StrTxt = "": bFldShw = ActiveWindow.View.ShowFieldCodes
ActiveWindow.View.ShowFieldCodes = True
StrFld = Selection.Text
For i = 1 To Len(StrFld)
  StrChr = Mid(StrFld, i, 1)
  Select Case StrChr
    Case Chr(19)
      StrChr = "{"
    Case Chr(21)
      StrChr = "}"
    Case Else
  End Select
  StrTxt = StrTxt + StrChr
Next
Selection.TypeText StrTxt
ActiveWindow.View.ShowFieldCodes = bFldShw
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

To reverse the process, see Convert Text Representations of Fields to Working Fields in the Mailmerge Tips and Tricks thread in the Mailmerge forum:
https://www.msofficeforums.com/mail-...ps-tricks.html
The code there turns a text representation of a field code into a working field. Not only does it do so for fields represented via parenthetic expressions (i.e. { }) but also for mergefields represented by chevrons (i.e. « »).

Do note that both processes lose any formatting the applied to the content within quoted strings or via the Charformat switch. If the retention of such formatting is required, it is advisable to run it on a copy of any such fields so the formatting can be restored post-conversion.

gmayor · #3 02-12-2017, 09:56 PM

See http://www.gmayor.com/export_field.htm which does the conversion in both directions.

ugcheleuce · #4 02-14-2017, 05:03 AM

Thank you, both, for your helpful answers.

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