Wildcards and track changes

valentinator · #1 06-05-2022, 04:45 PM

Hello! I'm sorry in advance if this is not the right place to post question. I'm having this issue:

I have a client that sends me documents to update, but sometimes they don't use track changes, they instead paint and underline the new text and expect me to not miss a thing.

I already have a way of finding that text with find and replace, but I would love to know if there is a way to change that text automatically using wildcards.

My idea would be:
1- Have track changes activated
2- Find any instance of a word, number or symbol that is formatted in a certain way (e.g., blue color and double underline)
3- Replace that text with the exact same text, but have it show with track changes

I have tried several ways with wildcards but I'm not that advanced yet and can't seem to hit the right string.

I would love any advice!!

macropod · #2 06-05-2022, 10:27 PM

You don't need wildcards for this. For example:

Code:

Sub TrackChanges()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim bTrk As Boolean
With ActiveDocument
  bTrk = .TrackRevisions
  .TrackRevisions = False
  With .Range
    With .Find
      .ClearFormatting
      .Format = False
      .Forward = False
      .Wrap = wdFindStop
      .Text = ""
      .Replacement.Text = ""
      .Font.Underline = True
    End With
    Do While .Find.Execute
      .Font.Underline = False
      .Cut
      ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = True
      .Paste
      ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = False
      .Collapse wdCollapseStart
    Loop
  End With
  With .Range
    With .Find
      .ClearFormatting
      .Forward = False
      .Wrap = wdFindStop
      .Font.StrikeThrough = True
    End With
    Do While .Find.Execute
      .Font.StrikeThrough = False
      ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = True
      .Delete
      ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = False
      .Collapse wdCollapseStart
    Loop
  End With
  .TrackRevisions = bTrk
End With
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

valentinator · #3 06-06-2022, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macropod

You don't need wildcards for this. For example:

Thank you so much for the help! Sadly, it didn't seem to work for me.
I think you used simple underline and mine is double. I tried tweaking it by myself but I don't know enough coding to make it work.
These are the two formatting options that I would need changed:
- Insertions are un double underline

- Deletions are strikethrough

I know I can leave the replace box empty for the deletions and that will do the trick, my only issue is with the insertions.

valentinator · #4 06-06-2022, 11:17 AM

Attaching formats for reference

macropod · #5 06-06-2022, 04:01 PM

Simply change:
.Font.Underline = True
to:
.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineDouble

valentinator · #6 06-06-2022, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macropod

Simply change:
.Font.Underline = True
to:
.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineDouble

That's what I tried doing, but it tells me I can't paste selection into a table. Is there a way of working around this?

macropod · #7 06-07-2022, 03:36 PM

Evidently, you have more than the simple addition/deletion of text going on. Without actually seeing the problem document, it can be difficult for anyone to diagnose the issue. Can you attach a document to a post with some representative data (delete anything sensitive)? You do this via the paperclip symbol on the 'Go Advanced' tab at the bottom of this screen.

valentinator · #8 06-08-2022, 11:51 AM

I was finally able to solve it. I wasn't removing the = True in the last line and that was causing the issue.
Thank you for your help!

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