Microsoft KB Archive/161246

= PPT: Sample Code to Get Input From an Office Assistant Balloon =

Article ID: 161246

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft PowerPoint 98 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q161246



SUMMARY
This article contains a sample Microsoft Visual for Applications macro (Sub procedure) that brings up the Office Assistant and then prompts you to make a selection. Five different animation choices are available. Once a radio button is clicked, the Assistant performs the animation. This code can be used as a starting point for creating Help systems with Microsoft Office.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers 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 requirements.

Sample Visual Basic Procedure
Sub GetInput

' Declare variables. Dim AssistantName As String Dim IsVisible As Boolean Dim Result As Byte Dim ball as Balloon

' For error trapping. On Error Resume Next Err.Clear

' Get the name of the current assistant. AssistantName = Assistant.Name

' If the Assistant is not visible make visible. If Assistant.Visible = False Then Assistant.Visible = True IsVisible = False Else IsVisible = True End If

' Create a balloon for the assistant. Set Ball = Assistant.NewBalloon

With Ball

' Add heading and question. .Heading = "Hi! I Am " & AssistantName .text = "Which Animation would you like me to perform?"

' Add radio button choices for animation selection. .Labels(1).text = "Appear" .Labels(2).text = "Disappear" .Labels(3).text = "Empty Trash" .Labels(4).text = "Artsy" .Labels(5).text = "Thinking"

' Sets the BalloonType Property. .BalloonType = msoBalloonTypeButtons

' Make the balloon modal, this is the default. .Mode = msoModeModal

' Add a cancel button to the balloon, OK is default. .Button = msoButtonSetCancel

End With

' Loop until cancel is selected. Do

' Show the Balloon Result = Ball.Show

' If Cancel button selected, end the macro. If Err <> 0 Then

' If the assistant was not visible close the assistant. If IsVisible = False Then Assistant.Visible = False Else ' Set to idle. Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationIdle End If

End End If

' Perform the animation. Select Case Result Case 1 Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationAppear Case 2 Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationDisappear Case 3 Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationEmptyTrash Case 4 Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationGetArtsy Case 5 Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationThinking Case Else MsgBox "An Error Occurred" End End Select

' Update the heading. Ball.Heading = "Please Make a Selection"

Loop

End Sub

