Document Formatting

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I'm glad you found it helpful. Perhaps you could mark my reply as the answer?

Suzanne,

That was really helpful. I need to brush up on what Charles has said but this was just the right targeted response that I needed. Thank you.

Jay

I am working with an inherited document that I am reformatting. I want to change the formatting of a number of items such as the Normal definition. I am using VBA to make the changes but when I execute the code, the definition of the various items changes but the existing items don't change. So, I change the definition of Normal and if I create a new Normal paragraph it is in the new definition I created but the existing paragraphs don't change. How can I force a change of all the existing paragraphs.

You need to learn about styles and using them.

• The Importance of Styles in Microsoft Word
• Tips for Understanding Styles in Word by Shauna Kelly
• Managing Word Styles by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP
• [Quick] Style Sets and Word Themes in Microsoft Word
• How styles in Microsoft Word cascade by Shauna Kelly

It sounds like you are wanting to change the normal style. The entire document may be formatted with that style with direct formatting applied. Changing the normal style may not change the direct formatting. Other styles may be in use that are not based on the normal style.

1. You do not need vba to do that.
2. You should be using more styles than normal, built-in or custom, in important documents. Most formatting should be done using styles.
3. Once you have a style you want in one document, you can copy it to another using the Organizer.
4. Keyboard shortcuts can be assigned to styles.