Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Understanding the Select Case Structure.
Macros in Word are written in a language called VBA. Like any other programming language, VBA includes certain programming structures that are used to control how the program executes. One of these structures is the Select Case structure. This structure has the following syntax:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: 
Select Case expression
Case expression
program statements
Case expression
program statements
Case Else
program statements
End Select
When a macro is executing and this structure is encountered, Word uses the expression (first line) to test each subsequent Case statement to see if the code under the Case statement should be executed. For instance, consider the following code:
Select Case DayOfWeek
Case 1
DayName = "Monday"
Case 2
DayName = "Tuesday"
Case 3
DayName = "Wednesday"
Case 4
DayName = "Thursday"
Case 5
DayName = "Friday"
Case 6
DayName = "Saturday"
Case 7
DayName = "Sunday"
Case Else
DayName = "Unknown day"
End Select
This code assumes you enter it with DayOfWeek already set to a numeric value. Let's say (for example's sake) the value is 4. In this structure, the only code that would be executed is the code under the Case 4 statement—in other words, the macro would set DayName to "Thursday." If DayOfWeek were set to some other value not accounted for by the Case statements (outside of the 1 to 7 range), then the code under Case Else would execute, and the macro would set DayName to "Unknown day."
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (130) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Understanding the Select Case Structure.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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