OLE Automation: Using Functions That Return Strings

Q105683

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

When you use Microsoft WordBasic functions in Visual Basic, keywords that return strings--that is, keywords that end in a dollar sign ($)-- must be enclosed in square brackets or an error message will occur.

Example 1

The following WordBasic instruction returns the current date: 

   a$ = Date$()
In Visual Basic, the same instruction is specified as follows: 

   worddate = WordObj.[Date$]()
The following Visual Basic example uses Word's Date$() function to post the current date in a message box: 

Dim WordObj As Object
Dim worddate As String
Set WordObj = CreateObject("Word.Basic")
worddate = WordObj.[Date$]()
MsgBox worddate
If you omit the square brackets that surround "Date$", Visual Basic will post the following error message:
Identifier can't end with type-declaration character

Example 2

The following WordBasic instruction shows the GetBookmark$() function as it might appear in a WordBasic macro: 

   mark$ = GetBookmark$("Address")
In Visual Basic, the same instruction would be specified as follows: 

   mark$ = WordObj.[GetBookmark$]("Address")
The following Visual Basic procedure opens the Word document TEST.DOC, and then uses the WordBasic GetBookmark$() function to return the text of the "Address" bookmark in a message box: 

Sub Command1_Click ()
Dim WordObj As Object
Dim Mark As String
Set WordObj = CreateObject("Word.Basic")
WordObj.FileOpen "D:\WinWord6\Test.doc"
Mark = WordObj.[GetBookmark$]("Address")
MsgBox Mark
End Sub

More Information

Visual Basic 4.x does not require the square backets "[ ]". They can however be used, as with VB3, without modification.

Additional query words: 6.0 ole automation word basic word6 word7 7.0 word95 object visual dollar sign brackets function return winword

Keywords : kbole
Issue type :
Technology :


Last Reviewed: November 4, 2000
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