Select text between characters

davers · #1 12-19-2008, 07:57 AM

Hi everyone! I'm editing large documents and one of the things I need to do is change the font type of all words in a sentence that fall between 2 characters. For instance in this example:

"This is my example text, _can you believe this!_ How can this be?"

Needs to be changed to "This is my example text, can you believe this! How can this be?"

So, everything that falls between the "underscores" needs to be italicized... Does anyone know how to use VBA to automate this?

Thanks for any help!!

Dave

dylane · #2 12-19-2008, 08:59 AM

Not sure how to do what you ask with VBA in Word, although there is probably a way. But you might be better served using a type setting program like LaTeX. I myself don't have any experience with this program, but I think it will do basically what you want (although you might need to replace the "_" with a different symbol).

If the document isn't really long, it might be better to just do a Find for all underscores and do direct formatting to the text you want italicized. Not as elegant, but many times a quicker approach.

davers · #3 05-01-2009, 10:35 AM

Hmm...I'll take a look at LaTex. Thanks for the link dylane. I'll have to work on the code for a bit.

Thanks,

Dave

Bird_FAT · #4 05-02-2009, 02:36 AM

He davers,

Sorry for not posting before - been a bit busy.

In Word, the Find function can be set to use 'wildcards' - this should help you with your task. Below is some script that you can paste into your VBA window (Alt+F11) and then run from your macro menu.

Code:

Sub Find_and_Italicise()
'
' Macro recorded by Bird_FAT
' This macro uses the wildcard '*' to look for text
' between to underscores, then italicises the text.
' The While/Wend statement at the end causes it to
' loop until it reaches the end of the document.
'
    Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    With Selection.Find
        .Text = "_*_"
        .Replacement.Text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindContinue
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
    End With
    While Selection.Find.Execute
    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
    Wend
End Sub

To use the wildcard feature, when you use Find/Find and Replace, select 'More' (if not already visible) and tick the 'Use wildcards' box - if you open Help and type 'wildcards' and choose the second option in the list it has some really great information there as a reference.

Bahir Barak · #5 05-08-2009, 08:58 PM

Hi my dear Bird Fat thanks alot for this useful instructions,

but i need to select text automatically between two quotes in MS WORD 2003 , and want to change its font type just to bold , if you had write for me VBA code for this command , I will be very thinkful for you ,

I am waiting for u ......

Bird_FAT · #6 05-09-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahir Barak

Hi my dear Bird Fat thanks alot for this useful instructions,

but i need to select text automatically between two quotes in MS WORD 2003 , and want to change its font type just to bold , if you had write for me VBA code for this command , I will be very thinkful for you ,

I am waiting for u ......

Code:

Sub Find_and_Font()
'
' Code written by Bird_FAT
' This script uses the wildcard '*' to look for text between
' two other characters, then changes the font of the text.
' The While/Wend statement at the end causes it to
' loop until it reaches the end of the document.
'
    Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    With Selection.Find
        .Text = "_*_"       '<------ Change the search choice
        .Replacement.Text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindContinue
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
    End With
    While Selection.Find.Execute
    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle  '<------ Change the Font choice
    Wend
End Sub

Just use the code from before and change the 'find' choice (put the characters you are looking for on either side of the *) and the word 'italic' for 'bold' in the line before 'Wend' - See the red markers above.

Bahir Barak · #7 05-20-2009, 05:31 AM

My dear :

I try the macro with changing the code , but it did not works with me , there is the file with attachments it is just empty foonotes , I want to change just the font or colour of the quotes not the number of footnoe,

Thankssss

Bird_FAT · #8 05-20-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahir Barak

My dear :

I try the macro with changing the code , but it did not works with me , there is the file with attachments it is just empty foonotes , I want to change just the font or colour of the quotes not the number of footnoe,

Thankssss

Umm...You have:

Code:

.Text = "(*)"

as your search choice. This is telling the search and replace to change the brackets AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! If you ONLY want it to effect the brackets, then you need to enter the brackets ONLY. You will need to repeat the code to search 1st for

Code:

.Text = "("

, followed by copying the code again (Everything from 'Selection.Find.ClearFormatting' to 'Wend'), and changing it to

Code:

.Text = ")"

Also you have it changing to Italic, not colour?

Code:

Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle

you will need to change it to a colour code instead

Code:

Selection.Font.Color = wdColorRed

Bahir Barak · #9 05-24-2009, 03:24 AM

OK , but when I done these changings in code and run the macro it gives this error :
((
Run-time error ,5560:
The Find What text contains a Pattern Match expression which is not valid.
))

The code after the changes become like below , and picture of the error message is in attachments .
waiting for u ......

thanks

Code:

Sub Find_and_Font()
'
' Code written by Bird_FAT
' This script uses the wildcard '*' to look for text between
' two other characters, then changes the font of the text.
' The While/Wend statement at the end causes it to
' loop until it reaches the end of the document.
'
    Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    With Selection.Find
        .Text = "("
        .Replacement.Text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindContinue
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
    End With
    While Selection.Find.Execute
    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
    Selection.Font.Color = wdColorRed
    Wend
    Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    With Selection.Find
        .Text = ")"
        .Replacement.Text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindContinue
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchWildcards = True
    End With
    While Selection.Find.Execute
    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
    Selection.Font.Color = wdColorRed
    Wend
End Sub

Bird_FAT · #10 05-24-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahir Barak

OK , but when I done these changings in code and run the macro it gives this error :
((
Run-time error ,5560:
The Find What text contains a Pattern Match expression which is not valid.
))

AH - I see the problem - you've left wildcards as TRUE
Try this - it should work!!

Code:

Sub find_and_colour_brackets()
'
' Code written by Bird_FAT
'
    Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    With Selection.Find
        .Text = "("
        .Replacement.Text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindContinue
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchWildcards = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
    End With
 
    While Selection.Find.Execute
    Selection.Font.Color = wdColorRed
    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
    Wend
 
    Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
    With Selection.Find
        .Text = ")"
        .Replacement.Text = ""
        .Forward = True
        .Wrap = wdFindAsk
        .Format = False
        .MatchCase = False
        .MatchWholeWord = False
        .MatchWildcards = False
        .MatchSoundsLike = False
        .MatchAllWordForms = False
    End With
 
    While Selection.Find.Execute
    Selection.Font.Color = wdColorRed
    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
    Wend
 
End Sub

Bahir Barak · #11 05-24-2009, 05:15 AM

it had worked .

Thanks one Globe

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