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Q161691: WD97: Extraneous Characters Returned with ViewFieldCodes On

Article: Q161691
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample word8 word97
Last Modified: 13-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you use the Text property of the Range object to return a text string that
contains a field, you may receive unpredictable results. For example, with field
codes view turned on, the value returned for a text string that contains the
Page field is enclosed in pipe (|) characters, like this:

  | PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT |

WORKAROUND
==========

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 the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more
information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following
Microsoft Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/partner/referral/

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

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods:

- Turn off field codes view before you run your macro.

-or-

- Use the following Visual Basic for Applications macro. The following macro
  uses the TextRetrievalMode property to remove the unwanted characters:

  Sub GetFieldTextExample()
     Dim MyRange As Object
     Set MyRange = ActiveDocument.Range(Start:=Selection.Range.Start, _
     End:=Selection.Range.End)
     MyRange.TextRetrievalMode.IncludeFieldCodes = False
     MsgBox MyRange.Text
  End Sub

NOTE: Some field results cannot be returned at all. For instance, the ListNum
field result is displayed as a picture. If you attempt to retrieve the value for
ListNum using any Visual Basic for Applications methods or properties, you
receive either an unwanted character or an empty result. Currently, there is no
workaround for a field type that displays its results as a picture.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION
================

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

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:

  

  Q176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

For information about how to do this in earlier versions of Word, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  

  Q106655 WD: GetText$ Encloses Fields in Pipe (Vertical Bar) Characters

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

  

  Q173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles


REFERENCES
==========

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

  

  Q163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: wordcon vb vbe vba vertical bar

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample word8 word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

=============================================================================

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