WD: Calling One Macro Routine or Function from Another Macro (81414)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0b
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1a

This article was previously published under Q81414

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, you can call macro subroutines and functions that are defined in one macro from within another macro. You can use this technique to create libraries of common routines and avoid having to copy or rewrite procedures you use often.

MORE INFORMATION

Word97

For more information about calling macro subroutines and functions, while in the Visual Basic for Applications Editor click the Office Assistant, type "Call," click Search, and then click to view "Call Statement."

All other versions of Word listed above

Subroutine:

To call a macro subroutine from within another macro, use the following syntax:

MacroName.RoutineName

MacroName is the name of the macro containing the routine, and RoutineName is the name of the routine you want to use. The template containing the library routine, or a document to which the template is attached, must be open when the routine is called. Routines stored in the NORMAL.DOT template are always available. For example, if you create a macro called Lib1, which contains the subroutine MyBeep, you can call MyBeep from other macros. The following is the subroutine MyBeep:
   Sub MyBeep
      Beep : Beep : Beep
      For t = 1 to 100 : Next          'Pause
      Beep : Beep : Beep
   End Sub
				
The following example illustrates how you can use the MyBeep subroutine in a macro called SwitchToDotPath:
   Sub MAIN
      MsgBox "This is a test"
      Lib1.MyBeep
   End Sub
				
Function:

The syntax for using a function that you defined in another macro is similar to that used for calling a subroutine. For example, if you define a function called MyDateTime$(time$) in the Lib1 macro library, you could call that function from another macro, titled CheckDateTime. The following is the MyDateTime$(time$) function:
   Function MyDateTime$(time$)
      mDate$ = Date$()
      mTime$ = Time$()
      MyDateTime$ = mDate$ + " " + mTime$
   End Function
				
You can call the MyDateTime$(time$) function from the following macro, called CheckDateTime:
   Sub Main                          'CheckDateTime macro
      CheckDateTime$ = "91.09.30 11:50 AM"
      ThisDateTime = Lib1.MyDateTime$(ThisDateTime$)
      Print ThisDateTime$
      If ThisDateTime$ = CheckDateTime$ Then
         Lib1.MyBeep
         MsgBox "It's time for lunch!"
      Else
         MsgBox "It's not time for lunch yet!"
      EndIf
   End Sub
				

REFERENCES

"Using WordBasic," by WexTech Systems and Microsoft, pages 58-59

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:kbmacro KB81414