WD97: Sample VB Code To Determine Text Box (or Text Frame) Link

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

This article describes a Visual Basic for Applications macro that determines if one text box (or text frame) is linked to another text box (or text frame).

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

To determine and compare text box links, create a macro that uses the Parent, Name and Previous properties to compare the text boxes. The following macro creates two text boxes, links the first text box to the second text box, and then displays a message indicating the link status.

   Sub CompareTextBoxLinks()
      Dim TBox1, TBox2 As TextFrame

      ' Create the first text box.
      Set TBox1 = ActiveDocument.Shapes.AddTextbox _
      (Orientation:=msoTextOrientationHorizontal, _
      Left:=50, Top:=50, Width:=100, Height:=100).TextFrame

      ' Create the second text box.
      Set TBox2 = ActiveDocument.Shapes.AddTextbox _
      (Orientation:=msoTextOrientationHorizontal, _
      Left:=50, Top:=200, Width:=100, Height:=100).TextFrame

      ' Link the first text box to the second text box.
      TBox1.Next = TBox2

      ' Determine if the second text box is linked to the first.
      ' TBox2.Previous.Parent.Name returns the name of the linked
      ' text box. If Tbox2 matches Tbox1, then they are linked.
      If TBox2.Previous.Parent.Name = TBox1.Parent.Name Then
         MsgBox TBox2.Parent.Name & " is linked to" & TBox1.Parent.Name
      End If
   End Sub

For more information about the TextFrames object, from the Visual Basic for Applications Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "TextFrames," click Search, and then click to view "TextFrame Object."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Visual Basic Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component