KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q185190: WD97: Find/Replace Macros Cannot Find Wingdings Characters

Article: Q185190
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta kbwordvba
Last Modified: 13-MAY-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

In Microsoft Word 97, when you run a macro to find or replace a character
formatted with a decorative font such as one formatted with a Wingdings
character, nothing happens.

CAUSE
=====

This problem occurs if the macro was created in an earlier version of Word
(Microsoft Word version 6.0 or Microsoft Word 7.0 for Windows 95) and if that
macro uses the Asc function. In Word 97, this function returns the same ANSC
(ANSI) or ACSII character code for all special characters.

WORKAROUND
==========

To find and replace Symbol or special characters (characters from fonts not
based on the ANSI or ASCII character set), use the FindSymbol macro, which is
supplied with Word in the Macros8.dot template. Word Setup places this template
in the macros folder of the Office program folder.

To use the FindSymbol macro to find symbol or special characters in the current
document, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Template.

2. Select Macros8.dot, which is located in the <Word>\Macros directory,
  and click OK.

  Where <word> is the directory in which your Word program files are
  located.

3. On the Tools menu, click Macro.

4. Select All Active Templates or Macros8.dot in the Macros Available In list.

5. In the Macro Name box, select FindSymbol, and then click Run.

  a. In the Find And Replace Symbols dialog box, click Find What to select the
     symbol you want to find.

  b. If you want to replace the Find What character with another symbol, select
     the Replace With option and then click Replace With to select the
     replacement symbol.

  -or-

     If you want to replace the Find What character with regular text, select
     the Text option and type the replacement text in the Text box.

For information about how to add sample macros in Word 97, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q162490 How to Access Sample Macros for Word 97

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

The Asc function is used to return an integer representing the ANSI value of a
Symbol character in a macro. When this function is used in Microsoft Word 97, it
returns the same value (40 or 63 depending on the method you use to insert the
character into your document) for all the decorative font characters.

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

You can use the following macro to return the ANSI code for a Wingdings
character:

     Sub ShowANSI()
        'Returns a message box with the ANSI value of the selected character.
        MsgBox Str(Asc(Selection.Range))
     End Sub

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

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

ANSI Value of 40
----------------

If you insert a Windgings font from the Symbol dialog box, the ANSI value for
that character is always 40.

To insert the Wingdings font from the Symbol dialog box, follow these steps:

1. On the Insert menu, click Symbol and then click the Symbol tab.

2. In the Font list, select Wingdings.

3. Click any symbol, click Insert, and then click Close.

If you select the inserted character and run the ShowANSI macro, Word displays a
message box on the screen with the value 40. If you repeat steps 1-3 and insert
a different Winding character, the value will remain 40.

ANSI Value of 63
----------------

The ANSI character for a Wingdings character is always 63 if you insert the
character by doing any of the following:

- Use the Character Map

- Use a keystroke (such as ALT+0245)

- Manually change the character font (using the Font list or dialog box)

To see an example of this, follow these steps:

1. In blank document, click the drop-down arrow in the Font box, and select the
  Wingdings font.

2. Press the "K" key.

  A fancy ampersand is added to your document.

3. Select the character and run the macro.

The ANSI value returned is 63.

For more information about Unicode, visit the Unicode Web site at:

  http://www.unicode.org/

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about the CHRW function, from the Visual Basic Editor,
click the Office Assistant, type "CHR function," click Search, and then click to
view "CHR function."

For more information about the ASCW function, from the Visual Basic Editor, click
the Office Assistant, type ASC function," click Search, and then click to view
"ASC function."

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 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: vba symbol webdings monotype12

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdta kbwordvba 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.