Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 19, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Imagine that you are developing a document that uses text colors to signal special meanings to the reader. For instance, you may use red text to indicate what the user should type. If you are developing a document in which you use color within your text, it can be a real bother to use the menus over and over again to change text colors. In such an instance, it is helpful to have a macro that modifies the color automatically. You can assign the macro to a key combination or a toolbar button so you don't have to use the menus. The following macro changes the color of the currently selected text to red.
Sub MakeRed()
If Selection.Type = wdSelectionNormal Or _
Selection.Type = wdSelectionBlock Then
Selection.Font.ColorIndex = wdRed
Else
Beep
End If
End Sub
If you want to use a different color besides red, change the color assignment made in the macro. (Just change the constant wdRed to the desired color.) VBA allows you to use constants to represent colors. There are seventeen different color numbers available:
| Number | Text Color | Word Constant | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Auto | wdAuto | ||
| 1 | Black | wdBlack | ||
| 2 | Blue | wdBlue | ||
| 3 | Cyan | wdTurquoise | ||
| 4 | Green | wdBrightGreen | ||
| 5 | Magenta | wdPink | ||
| 6 | Red | wdRed | ||
| 7 | Yellow | wdYellow | ||
| 8 | White | wdWhite | ||
| 9 | Dark Blue | wdDarkBlue | ||
| 10 | Dark Cyan | wdTeal | ||
| 11 | Dark Green | wdGreen | ||
| 12 | Dark Magenta | wdViolet | ||
| 13 | Dark Red | wdDarkRed | ||
| 14 | Dark Yellow | wdDarkYellow | ||
| 15 | Dark Gray | wdGray50 | ||
| 16 | Light Gray | wdGray25 |
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (253) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
Want to add an overline above a character or two in your document? There are several ways you can try, as described in ...
Discover MoreImagine that you are typing away, and all of a sudden your beautiful prose turns into a series of small rectangles that ...
Discover MoreWant to get your typeface exactly the right size? Here's how you can specify just the size you want Word to use.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2020-12-02 05:48:29
Giang Pham
How if I want the color out of these 17 colors, say, RGB(161,52,88)?
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments