Dim wdApp As Word.Application, bStrt As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
bStrt = False ' Flag to record if we start Word, so we can close it later.
Set wdApp = GetObject(, "Word.Application")
'Start Word if it isn't running
If wdApp Is Nothing Then
  Set wdApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")
  If wdApp Is Nothing Then
    MsgBox "Can't start Word.", vbExclamation
    Exit Sub
  End If
  ' Record that we've started Word, so we can terminate it later.
  bStrt = True
End If
On Error GoTo 0
wdApp.Visible = True