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: Copying Custom Properties.

Copying Custom Properties

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 20, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


3

Custom document properties are a great way to store unique information that is associated with a document. For instance, you may have a company-assigned document number that needs to be stored with a document. A custom property fits the bill quite nicely for this purpose.

As you add custom properties to a document, you may start wondering if there is an easy way to copy them from one document to another. Unfortunately, there is no way to do this. (In my estimation, this capability would make a fine addition to the Organizer.) You can, however, create a macro that will do the copying for you. The following macro will do just that:

Sub CopyDocProps()
    Dim dp() As DocumentProperty
    Dim CustomPropCount As Integer
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim intResponse As Integer

    If Windows.Count > 2 Then
        MsgBox "There are more than two windows. Please " & _
          "close the others and re-run the macro.", , _
          "Too many windows"
        Exit Sub
    End If

    On Error GoTo Err_Handler

    intResponse = MsgBox("Are you currently in the source document?", _
      vbYesNoCancel, "Copy Custom Properties")

    If intResponse = vbNo Then Application.Run MacroName:="NextWindow"

    CustomPropCount = ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties.Count
    ReDim dp(1 To CustomPropCount)

    For i = 1 To CustomPropCount
        Set dp(i) = ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties(i)
    Next i

    Application.Run MacroName:="NextWindow"

    For i = 1 To CustomPropCount
        If dp(i).LinkToContent = True Then
            ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties.Add _
              Name:=dp(i).Name, _
              LinkToContent:=True, _
              Value:=dp(i).Value, _
              Type:=dp(i).Type, _
              LinkSource:=dp(i).LinkSource
        Else
            ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties.Add _
              Name:=dp(i).Name, _
              LinkToContent:=False, _
              Value:=dp(i).Value, _
              Type:=dp(i).Type
        End If
    Next i

    MsgBox "The properties have been copied."
    Exit Sub

Err_Handler:
    ' if Word raises an error, then allow the user
    ' to update the custom document property
    
    intResponse = MsgBox("The custom document property (" & _
      dp(i).Name & ") already exists." & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
      "Do you want to update the value?", vbYesNoCancel, _
      "Copy Custom Properties")

    Select Case Response
        Case vbCancel
            End
        Case vbYes
            ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties(dp(i).Name).Value _
              = dp(i).Value
            Resume Next
        Case vbNo
            Resume Next
    End Select
End Sub

This code is an example of how to copy custom properties, but it is not bulletproof. For instance, it does not check to see if there are actually any custom properties in the source document; it just assumes that there are. Such coding could be easily added, however.

In order to use the macro, make sure that you have only the source and target documents open, and you should only have one window open per document. When the macro is finished, you will need to save the target document.

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 (1340) 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: Copying Custom Properties.

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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Removing All File Properties

Want to get rid of any properties you've created for a document? You can do so by using the short macro described in this ...

Discover More

Adding a Dynamic Total in Your Document

You can use a few bookmarks and an equation field to add a dynamic total anywhere in your document. Once in place, you ...

Discover More

Keyboard Shortcut for Comments

Adding comments to the cells in your worksheets can help to document different aspects of that worksheet. Adding a ...

Discover More

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!

More WordTips (menu)

Controlling Names of Backup Files

Want to control the name and location of your document backup? Here are some ideas that may help.

Discover More

Using Header Information as the Filename

Save a document for the first time, and Word helpfully suggests a filename you can use or change. If you want this ...

Discover More

Saving Document Versions

Documents often go through several versions during development. For this reason, Word provides a feature that allows you ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one less than 2?

2022-01-12 10:49:51

Al Gray

Your Err_Handler has a bug.

<code> Select Case Response <endcode>

should be:

<code> Select Case intResponse <endcode>


2021-09-27 12:25:15

Jules Edwards

Just wanted to let you know the Case Statement Response should be Select Case intResponse - as it is written it always falls through.


2021-09-09 08:53:37

Niels

Intresponse and response variables are not matching! Thanks for the macro


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.