Recreating a WORD Editing Macro to use in Outlook VBA

[Philip Rose]

Hello,
This is a simple VBA macro which I wrote to use in Word 2007. It addresses the problem of long sentences. The macro operates by replacing the first character in the selected text with a full stop and the last character is raised to a capital letter. Everything between these two is deleted and replaced with a double space.

Sub MakeSentance()
Dim FirstChar, LastChar, NewString As String

FirstChar = Left(Selection, 1)
LastChar = UCase(Right(Selection, 1))

NewString = FirstChar & ". " & LastChar

Selection = NewString

End Sub​

The macro works perfectly in Word 2007 and I would like to be able to use it when I am composing an email (Outlook 2007). Unfortunately I cannot work out how to alter this code so that I can run it in inspector, mode to edit the text that I have highlighted/selected. What I need to know is…

1. How do I set the code to operate with the email that I am creating?
2. How do I acquire the selected ('Selection') text?
3. When I have made the alterations, how do I 'put back' the new version of the selection?

I imagine that the answer to these questions is stunningly obvious but I have been unable to discover it for myself and for that reason I thank you in anticipation of your help.

Philip

 

[Diane Poremsky]

I didn't test this in outlook 2007, but see if this works - it works in outlook 2013, but I'm not sure i see the utility in it (maybe that is because it's not working like it does in 2007. )

  Public Sub FormatSelectedText()
    Dim objItem As Object
    Dim objInsp As Outlook.Inspector
      Dim FirstChar, LastChar, NewString As String

    ' Add reference to Word library
    ' in VBA Editor, Tools, References
    Dim objWord As Word.Application
    Dim objDoc As Word.Document
    Dim objSel As Word.Selection
    On Error Resume Next
   
'Reference the current Outlook item
    Set objItem = Application.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
    If Not objItem Is Nothing Then
        If objItem.Class = olMail Then
            Set objInsp = objItem.GetInspector
            If objInsp.EditorType = olEditorWord Then
                Set objDoc = objInsp.WordEditor
                Set objWord = objDoc.Application
                Set objSel = objWord.Selection

' your code goes here

FirstChar = Left(objSel, 1)
LastChar = UCase(Right(Selection, 1))
NewString = FirstChar & ". " & LastChar
objSel = NewString


            End If
        End If
    End If
    
    Set objItem = Nothing
    Set objWord = Nothing
    Set objSel = Nothing
    Set objInsp = Nothing
End Sub

 

[Philip Rose]

Dear Diane,
Thank you so much for your helpful response. As I'm sure you appreciate, I'm not just trying to create this simple macro but I am really trying to learn the techniques within Outlook.

The code you sent me does make sense (ish). I think I can follow it however when I try to run the code I get a compiler errors. On the dim statement for the Word.Application assignment.

Perhaps this object is not available in Outlook 2007?. We are currently trying to decide whether we should upgrade to the latest Office version or to switch over to Office 365. We are going to do one or the other and perhaps I should wait until then to have a look again at creating the macro?

Once again thank you for your help. I will keep in touch

Philip

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Did you see this:
' Add reference to Word library
' in VBA Editor, Tools, References

In the VBA Editor, go to Tools, References and find the word object model. That will fix the error.

As an office 365 enterprise customer, I think office 365 is great... but your macro should work with 2007 once you set the reference.

 

[Philip Rose]

Everyday is a school day!

Diane, thank you so much. I have got it working and I am learning so much!

Thanks again!

Philip