Checking for Valid Hyperlinks

Allen, maybe to extend a bit. In case if you want to identify broken links in Word documents but also to fix them we have ReplaceMagic.Word (it is not free tool :-( ) which can do that.

Direct link is:

https://www.replacemagic.com/RMWordEdition.aspx

ReplaceMagic does not require Word on the computer where it is installed and it can process multiple documents in parallel. Another advantage is that you can instruct ReplaceMagic to fix links (you will need to know what was wrong part of the link and what should be new, for example, before you had //server1/something and now you need //server2/something. By setting as search string server1 and as replacement string server2 ReplaceMagic will make changes.
Of course, you have to specify a location where the document(s) are :).

ReplaceMagic will fit scenarios where you need mass replacements and you'll not need to open a single document.
Of course, for smaller changes would be better to create macro or similar and last comment abblebits is not free (cost very small amount of $ ).

Thomas, thank you for your praise. Most of the documents that I see have links to web pages but It seems that you are looking at links to documents. The macro lumps documents with web pages and while it should open documents for eyeballing it would be possible to add to the macro to handle documents more effectively.

Something to add to my to-do list.

As pointed out by Mick, I found the same thing about the product. It is free for two weeks and it works well. I was stuck and lock out of it when the link went to a passworded document. The first password was required and worked, but when I got to the next reference that was passworded, it hung and would not go on. It is not too costly-about $10.00, but I don't want to pay that for a product that will not work for me. I am excited to try Ken Endacott's macro. His work has been exceptional in the other tips. Thanks so much for all you do! These tips are the greatest!

Checking hyperlinks can involve more than checking for a valid link. It is usually necessary to check that the link is to a relevant page and this can only be done by eyeballing the page.

The following macro will step through hyperlinks and test them for validity. Internal hyperlinks are checked to determine if they refer to a valid bookmark. External hyperlinks are checked to determine if the link is valid. If the link is valid then the page is opened and the user is asked if the page is relevant.

Invalid or incorrect hyperlinks are highlighted in yellow.

Sub CheckHyperlinks()
Dim hp As Hyperlink
Dim bk As Bookmark
Dim bTest As Boolean
Dim st As String
Dim k As Long
For Each hp In ActiveDocument.Hyperlinks
hp.Range.Select
st = ""
On Error Resume Next
st = hp.Address
If st = "" Then
' hyperlink is to an internal bookmark
st = hp.SubAddress
bTest = False
ActiveDocument.Bookmarks.ShowHidden = True
For Each bk In ActiveDocument.Bookmarks
If st = bk.Name Then bTest = True
Next bk
If bTest = False Then
If MsgBox("Error. Internal hyperlink to non existent bookmark.", vbOKCancel) = vbCancel Then Exit Sub
Selection.Range.HighlightColorIndex = wdYellow
End If
Else
bTest = True
On Error GoTo hpERR
ActiveDocument.FollowHyperlink Address:=st
On Error GoTo 0
If bTest = False Then
k = MsgBox("Invalid URL in hyperlink", vbOKCancel)
Else
k = MsgBox("Did hyperlink find a relevant web page", vbYesNoCancel)
End If
If k = vbCancel Then Exit Sub
If k = vbNo Or k = vbOK Then
Selection.Range.HighlightColorIndex = wdYellow
End If
End If
Next hp
Exit Sub
hpERR:
bTest = False
Resume Next
End Sub

Allen, sir,

First of all, I thank you for your weekly tips on using Microsoft Word. The information you offer is invaluable.

You MAY, however, wish to edit this post as the link that you provide for the Word Link Checker shows that it is NOT free. Only the Trial is free, though I'm not sure how long the trial lasts for.

Mick