Get rid of leading spaces before paragraphs in the footnote section

RobiNew · #1 10-23-2023, 09:21 AM

Years ago Macropod suggested two methods to remove leading spaces before paragraphs, with Wildcard Find/Replace, where:
1. Find =^13[ ]{1,}
'Replace = ^p
OR
2. 'Find = [ ]{1;}([!^13]@^13)
'Replace = \1
These two methods are perfect for the text of a document, but have no effect in the footnote sector. Any idea? Thanks!

vivka · #2 10-23-2023, 11:51 AM

Hi, Robinew! The Macropod's code does work on footnotes! I've checked it. Try replacing {1;} with {1,}, just in case.

Code:

Sub Del_Spaces_Starting_Paras()
'In selection, delete spaces & unbr spaces starting paragraphs
'including the doc's 1st paragraph.

Dim myRng As range
    
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
  Set myRng = ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(2)
    selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting
    With myRng.Find
        .text = "[^32^s]{1;}([!^13]@^13)"
        .Replacement.text = "\1"
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

RobiNew · #3 10-23-2023, 11:30 PM

Thanks, Vivka! Unfortunately, it does non work for me. The line of code With myRng.Find{1;} produces a syntax error or invalid character (also with {1,} ). Any idea?

vivka · #4 10-24-2023, 06:13 AM

Sorry, RobiNew! Of course it was a gross mistake of mine! I for an unknown reason put {1;} in a wrong place! I have corrected the code. Please, try it.

RobiNew · #5 10-24-2023, 07:39 AM

Hi, Vivka! Sorry, but it doesn't work in the footnote sector. It works only in the text sector, if I change (2) to (1). Thanks!

vivka · #6 10-24-2023, 09:01 AM

The only idea that occurs to me is that probably you have tabs starting paragraphs. Try replacing
.text = "[^32^s]{1;}([!^13]@^13)"
with
.text = "[^32^s^9]{1;}([!^13]@^13)"

RobiNew · #7 10-24-2023, 09:48 AM

No, there are no tabs before the footnote paragraphs. I've tried the code on several docs and on the one I'm attaching. Thanks!

vivka · #8 10-24-2023, 10:11 AM

Code:

Sub Space_Starting_Paras_Del_1()
'In footers, delete spaces, unbr spaces & tabs starting paras.

Dim myRng As range
    
Application.ScreenUpdating = False

  Set myRng = ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(2)
    selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting
    With myRng.Find
        .text = "[^32^s^9]{1;}([!^13]@^13)"
        .Replacement.text = "\1"
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
        .text = "[^13]{2;}"
        .Replacement.text = ""
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
 Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Set myRng =Nothing
 End Sub

RobiNew · #9 10-24-2023, 02:22 PM

Many thanks, Vivka! But the new version does not work in the footnote sector. In docs with large/normal paragraphs it damages the text of the main sector. Obviously with (2) > (1).

vivka · #10 10-25-2023, 03:45 AM

Hi, RobinNew! The last macro is only for footnotes! If used on storyrange(1) that has empty paragraphs, it will merge the paragraphs. On the other hand, the macro that is always good for storyrange(1) won't be good for storyrange(2). I suggest you combine two codes in one: the first one for the main body/active document followed by the other one for footnotes. I could not make a code based on Find-Replace that would be good for both storyranges.

My combination:

Code:


Sub Del_Spaces_Starting_Paras()
 'In the doc's main body and footnotes, delete spaces starting paras.

Dim myRng As range
    
Application.ScreenUpdating = False

'Work on active doc/main body:
  Set myRng = ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(1)
    selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting
    With myRng.Find
        .text = "[^32^s^9]{1;}([!^13]@^13)"
'Or:
'        .text = "[^32^s^9]{1;}(*^13)"
        .Replacement.text = "\1"
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
    Set myRng = ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(2)
    With myRng.Find
        .text = "[^32^s^9]{1;}([!^13]@^13)"
'Or:
'        .text = "[^32^s^9]{1;}(*^13)"
        .Replacement.text = "\1"
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
        .text = "[^13]{2;}"
        .Replacement.text = ""
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
  Application.ScreenUpdating = True
  Set myRng = Nothing
 End Sub

Or use the following code, which is not as fast as the Find_Replace code, but it is quite simple;

Sub Spaces_Starting_Paras_Del()
'In the doc's main body and footnotes, delete spaces starting paras.

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

For i = 1 To 2
For Each Para In ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(i).Paragraphs
Do While Para.range.Characters.First = Chr(32)
Para.range.Characters.First.Delete
Loop
Next Para
Next i
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

RobiNew · #11 10-25-2023, 06:10 AM

Hi, Vivka! I know that your last macro was only for footnotes! I was just reporting experiments. However, the (2)-macro does not work for me in the footnote sector. I have adopted your simple macro, which actually works for both sectors: text and footnotes. Many, many thanks!

vivka · #12 10-25-2023, 06:31 AM

Thank you, RobiNew for the possibility to experiment and learn new things!

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