WD97: How to Store and Retrieve Variables in Documents

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This article was previously published under Q181816

SUMMARY

This article describes how to set and retrieve document variables using Microsoft Word.

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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) You can use the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Variables collection to set and retrieve the contents of a string variable into a Word document or template.

Also, you can use the DocVariable field to retrieve the value of a document variable once it has been set.

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To Set and Retrieve the Value of a Document Variable

The following sample macro uses the Variables property to store and then retrieve the value of a string variable named "FullName" with the current document.

   Sub GetSetDocVars()

      Dim fName As String
      fName = "Jeff Smith"

      ' Set contents of variable "fName" in a document using a document
      ' variable called "FullName".
      ActiveDocument.Variables.Add Name:="FullName", Value:=fName

      ' Retrieve the contents of the document variable.
      MsgBox ActiveDocument.Variables("FullName").Value

   End Sub

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To Delete a Document Variable

The following sample macro uses the Variables property to first set and retrieve the value of a document variable and then delete the variable from the active document.

   Sub GetSetDeleteDocVars()

      Dim fName As String
      fName = "Jeff Smith"

      ' Set contents of variable "fName" in a document using a document
      ' variable called "FullName."
      ActiveDocument.Variables.Add Name:="FullName", Value:=fName

      ' Retrieve the contents of the document variable.
      MsgBox ActiveDocument.Variables("FullName").Value

      ' Delete the variable.
      ActiveDocument.Variables("FullName").Delete

   End Sub

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To Retrieve the Value of a Document Variable Using the DocVariable Field

The following sample macro uses the Variables property to set a document variable. Following the sample macro are steps to use the DocVariable field to retrieve the value into the contents of the same document.

   Sub GetSetDocVars()

      Dim fName As String
      fName = "Jeff Smith"

      ' Set contents of variable "fName" in a document using a document
      ' variable called "FullName."
      ActiveDocument.Variables.Add Name:="FullName", Value:=fName

   End Sub

To use the DocVariable field:

On the Insert menu, click Field.
In the Categories list, click Document Automation.
In the Field Names list, click DocVariable.
Click in the Field codes box so the insertion point is one space past the word DocVariables.
In quotation marks, type the name of the document variable.

Example: "FullName"
Click OK.

If you need to preserve a value between sessions of a macro, you can store values using any of the following methods:

Use the PrivateProfileString property to store values to a private settings file.

For more information about the PrivateProfileString property, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type PrivateProfileString Property, click Search, and then click to view "PrivateProfileString Property."
Use the Variables property to store values in a document.

For more information about the Variables property, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type Variables Property, click Search, and then click to view "Variables Property."
Use the Visual Basic for Applications Input/Output statements to write to a text file (for example, Write or Print statements).

For more information about writing data to files, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type Writing Data to Files, click Search, and then click to view "Writing Data to Files."
Use the AutoTextEntry Object to store values in an AutoText entry.

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

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

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REFERENCES

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

168923 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/168923/EN-US/ ) WD97: Invalid Page Fault Using DocVariable Field

173707 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/173707/EN-US/ ) OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

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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APPLIES TO

Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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kbdtacode kbhowto KB181816

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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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