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WD97: How to Create Mutually Exclusive Check Boxes Using VBA

Article ID: 172178 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q172178

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word, there is no built-in functionality to force a user to select only one Check Box Form Field out of a group of check boxes.

For example, if you have three check boxes: Yes, No, and Undecided, the user can select more than one at a time. However, you want to limit the user to selecting only one check box.

This article describes a method using Visual Basic for Applications that you can use to force a user to select only one check box from a group of check boxes.

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MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples 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. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs.
If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or Microsoft Advisory Services. For more information, visit these Microsoft Web sites:

Microsoft Certified Partners - https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104

(https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104)

Microsoft Advisory Services - http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice

(http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice)

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms)

The following sample Visual Basic for Applications macro demonstrates two groups of check boxes on a form. One group contains check boxes named Yes, No, and Undecided and the other group contains check boxes named True and False. When you select one of the check boxes in the group, the other check boxes are cleared.

   Sub ToggleCheckBoxOnEntry()
      Dim fFields As FormFields
      Dim fSelectedField As FormField
      Set fFields = ActiveDocument.FormFields
      For Each fSelectedField In Selection.FormFields
         ' Form field must be a check box.
         If fSelectedField.Type = wdFieldFormCheckBox Then
            ' Go to the case for the currently selected group.
            Select Case fSelectedField.Name
               ' Yes, No, or Undecided check box group.
               Case "Yes", "No", "Undecided"
                  ' Clear all values.
                  fFields("Yes").CheckBox.Value = False
                  fFields("No").CheckBox.Value = False
                  fFields("Undecided").CheckBox.Value = False
               ' True or False check box group.
               Case "True", "False"
                  ' Clear all values.
                  fFields("True").CheckBox.Value = False
                  fFields("False").CheckBox.Value = False
               ' You can add other Case statements for other groupings.
               ' For example:
               'Case
               '   <Code>
               'Case
               '   <Code>
               Case Else
            End Select
            ' Check the selected formfield.
            fSelectedField.CheckBox.Value = True
         End If
      Next
   End Sub

To use this macro for any check box grouping within your document, assign ToggleCheckBoxOnEntry() as the Entry macro for every Check Box Form Field in the group.

For more information about Select Case statement, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type Select Case statement, click Search, and then click to view "Select Case statement."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

176476

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/176476/EN-US/ )

OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

173707

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/173707/EN-US/ )

OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

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REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

163435

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/163435/EN-US/ )

VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

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Properties

Article ID: 172178 - Last Review: July 13, 2007 - Revision: 2.4

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

kbdtacode kbhowto kbmacroexample kbui KB172178

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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