Microsoft KB Archive/106388

= WD: Using SetDocumentVar to Store Variables in Documents =

Article ID: 106388

Article Last Modified on 11/23/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q106388





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



MORE INFORMATION
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You can use the Microsoft WordBasic SetDocumentVar command to set a string variable into a Word document or template. Document variables are similar to key names in a private settings file and are retrieved using the GetDocumentVar$ function. You can only set and access document variables using the WordBasic instructions SetDocumentVar and GetDocumentVar$.

The following sample macro uses the SetDocumentVar statement to store the contents of the A$ string variable with the current document under the name "FullName." When the string value needs to be returned, the GetDocumentVar$ function is used with the document variable name "FullName."

NOTE: Document variables that are added to a template are stored in all new documents that are based on the template. Sub MAIN A$ = "Jeff Smith" SetDocumentVar "FullName", A$  'Set contents of A$ in document Name$ = GetDocumentVar$("FullName")  'retrieves contents of variable Msgbox Name$ End Sub To ensure that the document variable has been set correctly, use the SetDocumentVar function instead of the statement form. The SetDocumentVar function returns -1 if the document variable was set successfully.

For example: Sub MAIN A$ = "Jeff Smith" n = SetDocumentVar("FullName", A$)  'Set contents of A$ in document If n = -1 then Name$ = GetDocumentVar$("FullName")'retrieves contents of variable Msgbox Name$ Else Msgbox "Document variable not set." End If  End Sub After a macro is finished running, the values of the macro variables are not saved. If you need to preserve a value between sessions of a macro, you can store values using any of the following methods:


 * Use SetPrivateProfileString to store values to a private settings file.
 * Use SetDocumentVar to store values in a document.
 * Use SetProfileString to store values in the Win.ini file.
 * Use the WordBasic File Input/Output statements to write to a text file (for example, Write or Print statements).
 * Use SetAutoText to store values in an AutoText entry.

