Q188775: WD97: Table Macro Returns Incorrect Result on Empty Cell
Article: Q188775
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbdta KbVBA
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 run a Visual Basic for Applications macro to select a table cell and
then test the contents of the cell or check whether the cell is empty, it may
return a false or invalid result.
CAUSE
=====
This behavior is by design of Microsoft Word. In Microsoft Word for Windows,
there are markers in every cell of the table that store formatting attributes.
When you select a cell in a table manually by double-clicking it or
programmatically with Select method, the cell marker is included in the
selection.
WORKAROUND
==========
When you write macros to test the content of a cell in Word, you must remove or
account for two additional characters at the right side or end of the selection.
These characters represent the cell marker.
If you are testing to see if a table cell is empty, then use one of the following
examples.
Method One--Check for a Character other Than Cell Marker
--------------------------------------------------------
This macro inserts a space at the end of the cell, and then moves the insertion
point to the beginning of the cell. If MyVar returns a space, the cell is empty.
This macro does not work with leading spaces in the text.
Sub TableCellSpace()
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(Row:=1, Column:=1).Select
Selection.InsertAfter " "
Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1
MyVar = Selection.Text
If MyVar= " " then MsgBox "Empty Cell"
End Sub
Method Two--Check All Cells in Table Suppress Leading Spaces
------------------------------------------------------------
This macro checks the number of characters in a table cell, using the Len
function to count the number of characters and LTrim function to suppress
leading spaces in the selected content.
To compensate for the cell marker, subtract 2 from the result of the LTrim and
Len function. All of these features are combined together to apply to the
content of the selection.
Sub TableCellTest()
For varRow = 1 To ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows.Count
For varCol = 1 To ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns.Count
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(varRow, varCol).Range.Select
'Gets number of characters in cell minus cell marker and
'leading spaces, then assigns it to the variable.
MyVar = Len(LTrim(Selection.Range.Text)) - 2
If MyVar = 0 Then
MsgBox "Cell row " & r & ", col. " & c & " is empty"
End If
Next varCol
Next varRow
Selection.MoveDown unit:=wdLine
End Sub
MORE INFORMATION
================
In Word, when you select a blank table cell and examine the content, the values
assigned to the code internally are different from the information displayed in
a message box: A character count on the cell content returns the value one,
while the Len function returns the value two. The text value of the selection
displays a single vertical bar (|) on screen, and a double vertical bar (||)
internally.
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
For more information about Len or Trim function, from the Visual Basic Editor,
click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Word Help,
type the following text
" len or trim " (without the quotation marks)
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Len Function" topic. If you
are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.
REFERENCES
==========
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
Q173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles
Additional query words: wordcon Table wd97 VBA Text blank
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Keywords : kbdta KbVBA
Technology : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version : WINDOWS:97
Issue type : kbprb
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