open saved word document in external editor.

gerison · #1 11-30-2017, 02:20 AM

Hello! Recently this forum helped me to solve the problem to save a document, close it and open it in another editor. Part of the code was like this: strName = Replace(ActiveDocument.FullName, ".docx", ".txt") ActiveDocument.SaveAs2 FileName:=strName, FileFormat:=wdFormatText ActiveDocument.Close 0 RetVal = Shell("notepad.exe " & strName, 1) It works until there are blank spaces in the file name. Example: This is the regular namestructure of my files. "Ka,17-11-27,Brief lang an Lackner Josef.docx" This File was saved, but got an error message that the external editor cant't find the file. Wheras a file like: Ka,17-11-27,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.docx is saved and opend in the editor. I was looking for restictions as to file names but couldn't found any. I'm wondering if blank sapces in filenames are forbidden somehow. Can one of you provide me with any help or an hint where I can find a solution. Thanks in advance. gerald

gmayor · #2 11-30-2017, 06:25 AM

Spaces are not barred in filenames and the code you posted (essentially as below) works without any problem with your filename example

Code:

Sub Macro1()
Dim retval As Object
Dim strName As String
    On Error Resume Next
    strName = Replace(ActiveDocument.FullName, ".docx", ".txt")
    ActiveDocument.SaveAs2 FileName:=strName, FileFormat:=wdFormatText
    ActiveDocument.Close 0
    retval = Shell("notepad.exe " & strName, 1)
End Sub

gerison · #3 11-30-2017, 06:32 AM

Thank you again for your fast response. Using the scribt on filename "Ka,17-11-27,Brief lang an Lackner Josef.docx" saves the .txt file and generates en error message on opening the editor: file not found. Using the the scribt on filename "Ka,17-11-27,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.docx" saves the .txt file and opens it in the editor for further editing. This is what I don't understand. It doesn't relate to the lenght of the file name as well. As soon as there are spaces the error occours. This is why I was thinking about restrictions of the filname itself on running the scribt. The scribt itself works great, and I thank you again. Maybe ther is a trick to it.

gerison · #4 02-01-2018, 08:45 AM

Hello again! You've been right, for notepad.

But I'm coming back to that issue, beacause I can't ajust it to my needs and make it work. I used the save to txt and open in notepad as a example to keep it simple and understand the process.

In the end I ajusted the scribt to my needs, which are: convert to .tex and open it in a Tex Editor.

Code:

Sub saveastxt()
Dim RetVal As Object
Dim strDelete As String
Dim strName As String
    On Error Resume Next
    ActiveDocument.Save
    If ActiveDocument.Path = "" Then
        MsgBox "Document not saved!"
        GoTo lbl_Exit
    End If
    strDelete = ActiveDocument.FullName
    strName = Replace(ActiveDocument.FullName, ".docx", ".tex")
    ActiveDocument.SaveAs2 FileName:=strName, FileFormat:=wdFormatText
    ActiveDocument.Close 0
    RetVal = Shell("C:\Program Files (x86)\Texmaker\texmaker.exe " & strName, 1) 'Don't open the saved .txt file
    Kill strDelete
lbl_Exit:
    Exit Sub
End Sub

It works, but only without any spaces in the filname. Otherwise the editor opens, showing no file, or in case of another editor: it opens with the massage, file not found. I tried several tex editors, all mention the same problem.

I just can't get it solved by myself. I simply don't understand why it works with notepad and not with the other editors.

I really would appreciate any help, and I'm willed to donate for a solution

gerison · #5 02-01-2018, 02:01 PM

Hello again! The Problem could be solved with the ollowing line. RetVal = Shell("C:\Program Files (x86)\Texmaker\texmaker.exe """ & strName & """", 1) gerald

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