Loading
Word.Tips.Net WordTips (Menu Interface)

Moving the Insertion Point in a Macro

VBA allows you to use commands to move the insertion point up, down, left, and right within your document. You do this by using the MoveUp, MoveDown, MoveLeft, and MoveRight methods. You must then specify the type of units you want to move, as well as how many. The basic syntax is as follows:

Selection.direction Unit:=units, Count:=num, Extend:=extension

where direction is one of the methods (MoveUp, MoveDown, MoveLeft, or MoveRight). If you are using the MoveUp or MoveDown methods, you can use units of wdLine, wdParagraph, wdWindow, or wdScreen. If you are using the MoveLeft or MoveRight methods, you can use units of wdCharacter, wdWord, or wdSentence. The num setting indicates how many of the units you want to move the insertion point. The extension value is either wdMove (if you only want to move the insertion point) or wdExtend (if you want to enlarge the selection by your movement).

As an example, let's say you want to move the insertion point to the right by five characters. The proper command to do this would be the following:

Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=5, Extend:=wdMove

If you instead want to move the insertion point up two paragraphs, and select the text from the current insertion point location to the new one, you would use the following line:

Selection.MoveUp Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=2, Extend:=wdExtend

You can similarly construct other movement commands for your macro.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (784) applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Moving the Insertion Point in a Macro.

Related Tips:

More Power! For some people, the prospect of creating Word macros can be scary. WordTips: The Macros can help you conquer your fears and you'll discover you're much more confident and productive as you make Word do exactly what you want. This is an invaluable source for learning macros. You are introduced to the topic in bite-sized chunks, pulled from past issues of WordTips. Learn at your own pace, exactly the way you want. Check out WordTips: The Macros today!

 

Comments for this tip:

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form below!)

Leave your own comment:

*Name:
Email:
  Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP
Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE
Hide my email address
*Text:
*What is 2+3? (To prevent automated submissions and spam.)
 
 
 

Our Company

Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.

About Tips.Net

Contact Us

 

Advertise with Us

Our Privacy Policy

Our Sites

Tips.Net

Beauty and Style

Cars

Cleaning

Cooking

ExcelTips (Excel 97–2003)

ExcelTips (Excel 2007–2013)

Family

Gardening

Health

Home Improvement

Legal Help

Money and Finances

Organizing

Pests and Bugs

Pets and Animals

School and Schooling

Weddings

WindowsTips

WordTips (Word 97–2003)

WordTips (Word 2007–2013)

Our Products

Premium Newsletters

Helpful E-books

Newsletter Archives

 

Excel Products

Word Products

Our Authors

Author Index

Write for Tips.Net

Copyright © 2013 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.