WD: WordBasic Macros to Find the ANSI Value of Characters

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SUMMARY

To troubleshoot a problem or search for an extended character, you may need to find the ANSI value of a string of text in Microsoft Word.

MORE INFORMATION

Below are two simple macros to find the ANSI value of a string of text. The first is for one character selections and the second is for strings or formatting characters.

The application note titled "WordBasic Macro Examples for Word for Windows 2.0" includes a macro named ANSIChar. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q100491
   TITLE     : WD0523: Frequently Requested Macros Descriptions

Macro 1

   Sub Main
      A$=Selection$() '* A$ = highlighted text
      Print Asc(A$)   '* Print ANSI value of the first
                '* character in A$ on the Status bar.
   End Sub

Macro 2

You can use this macro for formatting characters or dissecting any size text string. It displays both character and ANSI values in a message box.

   Sub Main
      A$ = Selection$()               '*A$=Highlighted text
      While Len(A$) >=1               '* While the Length of A$ is
                                      '* greater than 1
      CharValue = ASC(A$)             '* the ANSI value of 1st character
      If Len(A$) >1 Then              '* Reducing the length of A$
              A$ = Mid$(A$, 2)        '* A$ = A$ minus the 1st character
      Else
              A$=""                   '* A$ = nothing
      End if
      MsgBox Chr$(34) + Chr$(CharValue) + Chr$(34) + " ASC val = " +
      Str$(CharValue)                 '* Display values in a message box
      Wend                            '* end while loop
   End Sub

1. From the Tools menu in Word for Windows 2.0, choose Macro, type a macro name, and choose the Edit button. From the Macro menu in Word for Windows 1.x, choose Edit, type a macro name, and choose the OK button.

2. Type the macro.

3. Choose File, Close, and save the macro when prompted.

4. Select the text to run the macro on.

5. Choose Tools, Macro. Highlight the macro name and choose Run.