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: Toggling Font Assignments in a Macro.

Toggling Font Assignments in a Macro

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 27, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Jacie wrote that she had created a macro that set text to Time New Roman. She wanted to change the macro to be a toggle between Times New Roman and Arial Narrow Bold, and wondered how to do it.

The easiest way to do it in a macro is simply to check the font used in your selected text, and then take steps based on what you find. For instance, the following macro will only take action if the selected text is either Times New Roman or Arial Narrow:

Sub ChangeSelectedFont()
    Select Case Selection.Font.Name
        Case "Times New Roman"
            Selection.Font.Name = "Arial Narrow"
            Selection.Font.Bold = True
        Case "Arial Narrow"
            Selection.Font.Name = "Times New Roman"
            Selection.Font.Bold = False
    End Select
End Sub

There is a different, non-macro way that may make some sense, however. Why not use styles? You can define styles to encompass any formatting attributes desired. For instance, you could define one style that used Times New Roman, and another that used Arial Narrow Bold. You could apply the styles at will, from the toolbar, and you could even search and replace using the styles.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1300) 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: Toggling Font Assignments in a Macro.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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