Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 23, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Anthony regularly imports multiple reports, in text files (i.e, filename.txt), into Word. He then uses macros to format this imported information. After the formatting macro is complete, Anthony manually uses "Save As" for each report to save it as a Word document. He is wondering what commands he should add to his macro to automate the last step of saving the data. Anthony would like to have the macro save the file using the same root name as the original text file, only changing it to Word format, as in filename.doc.
The steps to actually save the file are relatively easy. Consider the following code snippet, which saves a document in Word format:
ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:=sDocName, _ FileFormat:=wdFormatDocument
The name of the file is stored in the sDocName variable, and the setting for the FileFormat property indicates that you want the document saved in the Word format. In an existing macro, the only thing left to do would be to set up sDocName with the filename that is desired.
Assuming that you have saved your original text file name into the variable sOrigName, you could use the following code to change the extension to .doc, and then save the file:
sDocName = Left(sOrigName, Len(sOrigName) - 4) sDocName = sDocName & ".doc" ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:=sDocName, _ FileFormat:=wdFormatDocument
The code assumes that the last four characters of sOrigName contain the filename extension (the period plus three characters). These are stripped of and the ".doc" extension added.
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 (427) 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: Saving in Document Format from a Macro.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
When creating macros, it is sometimes necessary to know how many documents are open in Word. This is relatively easy to ...
Discover MoreMacros can make your use of Word faster and easier than ever before. What do you do, however, when you try to save a ...
Discover MoreWhen writing a macro, a common task is the need to compare two strings. You can do this by "normalizing" the strings, as ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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 © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments