WD97: Table Macro Returns Incorrect Result on Empty Cell (188775)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q188775

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. 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. 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

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:

173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/17/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB188775
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.