Remove hyphenation from copied text from pdf in Word VBA

Jakov93 · #1 03-20-2024, 09:35 AM

Hi,
When I copy text from pdf, many hyphenation appear, I tried many search condition to look for "- " but all failed
The only way which recognize that is when I type "^?‑ "
So it require any character dash space

Now I want to keep the character and remove dash space
I used ^? again in replace box but it's not valid

Any modification to such macro

Code:

Sub RemoveDashSpace()
    Dim oRng   As range
    If Len(Selection.range) = 0 Then
        MsgBox "Select the text first", vbCritical
        Exit Sub
    End If
    Set oRng = Selection.range
    
    With oRng.Find
        .ClearFormatting
        .Replacement.ClearFormatting
        .text = ""
        .Replacement.text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = False
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
End Sub

Thanks

vivka · #2 03-20-2024, 12:50 PM

Hi, Jakov93! There are several types of a dash: minus/hyphen (chr(45)), en-dash (chr(150)), and em-dash (chr(151). Try using each of them or alll of them at once with .MatchWildcards = True:

Code:

.text = "[" & Chr(45) & Chr(150) & Chr(151) & "]" & Chr(32)

Or if you surely want to keep the character and remove dash + space, use:

Code:

    With oRng.Find
        .ClearFormatting
        .Replacement.ClearFormatting
        .text = "(?)- "
        .Replacement.text = "\1"
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With

Jakov93 · #3 03-20-2024, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivka

Hi, Jakov93! There are several types of a dash: minus/hyphen (chr(45)), en-dash (chr(150)), and em-dash (chr(151). Try using each of them or alll of them at once with

Thanks for reply,
vivka, no change occurs after applying the code
try this
within the NO‑producing cell and those in bystander cells35. In mice, NO is considered essential for con‑ trolling Leishmania, as iNOS‑deficient mice are sus‑ ceptible to iNOS (NOS2) in lesions of patients with cutaneous leish‑ maniasis compared with normal skin.

Thanks

vivka · #4 03-20-2024, 01:11 PM

Your dash is Chr(30), so use:

Code:

 .text = Chr(30) & Chr(32)
 .MatchWildcards = True

Jakov93 · #5 03-20-2024, 01:20 PM

Dear vivka,
Also no change

vivka · #6 03-20-2024, 01:30 PM

Strange, because for me it works smoothly on your sample.
Try the full code:

Code:

Sub RemoveDashSpace()
    Dim oRng   As range
    If Len(selection.range) = 0 Then
        MsgBox "Select the text first", vbCritical
        Exit Sub
    End If
    Set oRng = selection.range
    
    With oRng.Find
        .ClearFormatting
        .Replacement.ClearFormatting
        .text = Chr(30) & Chr(32)
        .Replacement.text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindStop
        .Format = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
        .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
    End With
End Sub

Jakov93 · #7 03-20-2024, 02:01 PM

Also no change, I have been shocked
Try my file please Demo.docx

vivka · #8 03-20-2024, 02:17 PM

It's weird, but now your dash is Chr(63), which means it cannot be identified! This "dash" may be a graphical object (bitmap). I've come across such things: they look like normal characters, but can't be identified and manipulated with. I will try again tomorrow.

Jakov93 · #9 03-20-2024, 02:21 PM

I'm sorry for being annoying
the result:
withithNO‑producincelanthosibystande cells35ImiceNiconsidereessentiafocontrollinLeishma niaaiNOS‑deficienmicarsusceptibltiNO(NOS2ilesionop atientwitcutaneouleishmaniasicomparewitnormaskin

vivka · #10 03-20-2024, 02:31 PM

Yes, I have the same result. Definitely, it's a bitmap image. Increase the font size and look, how it is selected (with blank sides/margins) and, if placed in Notepad, it is shown as a box.

vivka · #11 03-20-2024, 02:47 PM

Finally, I've found a solution: Using plain Find-Replace, paste in FindWhat the copied "dash" plus space & replace all instances of them with nothing.

Jakov93 · #12 03-20-2024, 07:06 PM

Thanks so much vivka
I appreciate your time and efforts
What is the magic secrete behind this condition that I can't use VBA macro with it?
Thanks again

Guessed · #13 03-20-2024, 09:48 PM

Try this version which works on your brief sample - it appears the dash is using the extended Ascii codes.

Code:

Sub Macro1()
  With ActiveDocument.Range.Find
    .ClearFormatting
    .Replacement.ClearFormatting
    .Text = ChrW(8209) & " "
    .Replacement.Text = ""
    .Forward = True
    .Wrap = wdFindContinue
    .Format = False
    .MatchCase = False
    .MatchWholeWord = False
    .MatchKashida = False
    .MatchDiacritics = False
    .MatchAlefHamza = False
    .MatchControl = False
    .MatchWildcards = False
    .MatchSoundsLike = False
    .MatchAllWordForms = False
    .Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
  End With
End Sub

Jakov93 · #14 03-20-2024, 09:53 PM

Thanks so much Andrew
It works perfectly

You are the hard task man
Thanks again

vivka · #15 03-20-2024, 10:53 PM

Sure! I used Asc(ch) instead of AscW(ch). Live and learn.

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