WD2000: Unexpected Result Using Find Command w/o Forward Argument

ID: Q212680

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 2000

SYMPTOMS

If you do not specify a search direction when using the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Find property, either the search routine may go to the next instance of a search string or the previous instance, or nothing happens.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. The search function in Word remembers the last direction and uses this as the default for the next search.

WORKAROUND

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The following Find Object properties determine the search direction and whether the search continues after you reach the beginning or end of the document:

Forward Argument

The Forward argument specifies the direction to search. When you set the value to True, the macro searches toward the end of the document. When you set the value to False, the macro searches toward the beginning of the document.

Wrap Property

The Wrap property returns or sets the event that occurs when the search begins at a point other than the beginning of the document or if the search text is not found in the specified selection or range. The Wrap property can use any of the following WdFindWrap constants:


Constant         Description
--------         -----------

wdFindAsk        After searching the selection or range, Word displays a
                 message asking whether to search the remainder of the
                 document.

wdFindContinue   The find operation continues when the beginning or end of
                 the search range is reached.

WdFindStop       The find operation ends when the beginning or end of the
                 search range is reached.

Searching Downward

The following macro example searches downward. When it reaches the end of the document, it prompts you to continue searching from the beginning of the document:


Sub SearchDown()
   Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
   With Selection.Find
      .Text = "Word"
      .Forward = True
      .Wrap = wdFindAsk
   End With
   Selection.Find.Execute
End Sub

Searching Upward

The following macro example searches upward. When it reaches the beginning of the document, it prompts you to continue searching from the end of the document:


Sub SearchUp()
   Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
      With Selection.Find
         .Text = "Word"
         .Forward = False
         .Wrap = wdFindAsk
      End With
      Selection.Find.Execute
End Sub

Searching the Entire Document

The following macro example searches the entire document. It does not prompt you to continue searching when you reach the beginning or the end of the document:


Sub SearchEntireDocument()
   Selection.Find.ClearFormatting
   With Selection.Find
      .Text = "Word"
      .Forward = True
      .Wrap = wdFindContinue
   End With
   Selection.Find.Execute
End Sub

For more information about the Find property, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type Find in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about using the sample code in this article, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q212536 OFF2000: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: vb vba vbe

Keywords : kbdta kbdtacode kbwordvba wd2000
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb