Counting Characters in a Selection with WordBasic

Summary: Need to figure out the number of characters in a range of selected text? Here's how to do it in WordBasic. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 6, and Word 95.)

When you are developing macros, it is often helpful to know how many characters are in a text selection. The following WordBasic macro, CharCount, will display the number of characters in a selection.

Sub MAIN
Title$ = "CharCount"
On Error Goto HugeString
InSelection = SelType()
If InSelection = 2 Or InSelection = 6 Then
    CharCount = Len(Selection$())
    CharCount$ = Mid$(Str$(CharCount), 2) + " character"
    If CharCount <> 1 Then CharCount$ = CharCount$ + "s"
    MsgBox CharCount$, Title$
Else
    Beep
    MsgBox "No text selected", Title$, 16
End If
Goto Done

HugeString:
    MsgBox "Selection too large", Title$, 48

Done:
End Sub

Tip #745 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 6 | 95

Step Up and Take Control! Subscribers to WordTips know just how valuable a resource it is. WordTips Premium provides twice the number of exceptional, easy-to-understand tips every week in an ad-free newsletter, as well as substantial discounts on WordTips archives and e-books.

Check out WordTips Premium today!