MS Word MACRO "Insert Text from File using multiple documents and different ranges

Question

I am trying to build a MACRO in MS WORD that will allow me to Insert "Text from File" using multiple documents and different ranges.

My goal (if possible) is to select the text I want to replace and then Run a Macro that will allow me to select the document and range from which to pull the information. In some situations, I will need to replace text using multiple files and ranges.

Current MACRO:

I have created the document files with bookmarks to ensure that I can pull the appropriate "Range" I just cannot figure out how to create a Macro that will allow me to select a file destination, the file itself or set the range.

Please help if possible.

Thanks

Answer 1

Your idea sounds like a reinvention of Word's AutoText feature. That allows you to store text in an attached template, then insert it wherever you need it. (Insert>Quick Parts>AutoText>Add Selection to AutoText).

To select files in VBA, use a dialog box. Here is Microsoft's page on this: Application.FileDialog property (Word)

Answer 2

John,

Thanks for the response.

I'm basically merging several smaller weekly reports into a compiled Monthly report. The "work completed" changes from week to week and therefore, the quick parts will not work for this scenario. I can do this manually using the "Text from File" option, but it is tedious since I have to do it for each week of the month to get the correct weekly comments.

Any other suggestions?

Jason

Answer 3

Word's Master Document feature might work for your scenario. You can assemble a set of sub-documents under a master for printing of creating a PDF. Master documents have a bad reputation for corruption, so they're only safe to use if you assemble it, print or PDF, then delete the master. Here's a macro that makes quick work of creating a master document from a folder full of files:

Sub AssembleBook()
    Dim SubDocFile$, FolderPath$, Template$
    Dim Counter&
    Dim oFolder As FileDialog
    Dim oBookmark As Bookmark
    Dim oTOC As TableOfContents

'Create a dynamic array variable, and then declare its initial size
    Dim DirectoryListArray() As String
    ReDim DirectoryListArray(1000)

'Use the built-in Folder Picker dialog to choose the folder holding all the subdocuments
    Set oFolder = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
    With oFolder
        .AllowMultiSelect = False
        If .Show <> 0 Then
            FolderPath$ = .SelectedItems(1)
        Else
            GoTo EndSub 'If you cancel out of the dialog, this will exit the macro
        End If
    End With
    
'Turn off display updating for a less distracting appearance
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    
'Loop through all the files in the directory by using Dir$ function
    SubDocFile$ = Dir$(FolderPath$ & Application.PathSeparator & "*.*")
    Do While SubDocFile$ <> ""
        DirectoryListArray(Counter) = SubDocFile$
        SubDocFile$ = Dir$
        Counter& = Counter& + 1
    Loop

'Reset the size of the array without losing its values by using Redim Preserve
    ReDim Preserve DirectoryListArray(Counter& - 1)

'The following will sort the subdocuments by their name. You can prepend the name with a number to create any order you want them to be in the master document.
    WordBasic.SortArray DirectoryListArray()
    
'Start the master document process
    ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.Type = wdOutlineView
    ActiveWindow.View = wdMasterView
    Selection.EndKey Unit:=wdStory
    For x = 0 To (Counter& - 1)
        If IsNumeric(Left(DirectoryListArray(x), 1)) Then
            FullName$ = FolderPath$ & Application.PathSeparator & DirectoryListArray(x)
            Documents.Open FileName:=FullName$, ConfirmConversions:=False
            With Documents(FullName$)
                .AttachedTemplate = Template$
                For Each oBookmark In Documents(FullName$).Bookmarks
                    oBookmark.Delete
                Next oBookmark
                .Close SaveChanges:=True
            End With
            Selection.Range.Subdocuments.AddFromFile Name:=FullName$, ConfirmConversions:=False
        End If
    Next x

'Optional TOC update for a master document that already has a table of contents
'    For Each oTOC In ActiveDocument.TablesOfContents
'        oTOC.Update
'    Next oTOC
    
'Switch back to Print Layout view and turn screen updating back on.
    ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.Type = wdPrintView
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
EndSub:
End Sub

Answer 4

Graham Mayor may have created an Add-In that does this for you:

Boiler - Insert a selection of documents by Graham Mayor, MVP