How Can I Get Text At Cursor Position In Word.Application

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Hi all,
I am using word COM object to get some data from an existing word document. All i need to know how to get the text at the cursor position from oWord.ActiveDocument. Almost all google links are ponting to insert text in word document. But i need to know how to get a word, sentence, a line of text from word. And that is in the current cursor position. I know a scripting language named AutoIt. In AutoIt, i can easily tell my program to catch word or senetence or char from either backward of the cursor or forward of the cursor. But i don't know how to do it in VB.NET. Please help.

And this is i am up to.

VB

Dim oWord As Word.Application
       Dim Sel As Word.Section

       oWord = GetObject(, "Word.Application")
       Sel = oWord.Selection
       Dim oRange As Word.Range = Sel.Range()

Posted 29-Jul-15 20:47pm

Vinod Kc

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Ralf Meier 30-Jul-15 3:08am

I'm not sure, what you want to achieve.
Do you want to now the position of your Search-Text ... or di you want to do something with this Search-Text - for example replace it through another text ?

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 3:52am

@Ralf Meier , I am planning to make a text expander for word. I know there is autocorrect. But autocorrect will change mt formatted text's font aftre a restart. So i decided to make one. If user types "prod", then my program catch that string and compare it with an array. If array contains a full text of "prod" then it will select the word "prod" and replace it with new text. I hope i have made the point clear.

Ralf Meier 30-Jul-15 8:09am

I added a Solution ...

next time please use Reply for an answer. In this case I automaticly get a notification ...

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 14:48pm

Sure. Thank you

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Ralf Meier · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-30T02:08:00

Solution 2

You could use the Word-intern functionality for that :

VB

' connection to MS-Word
 objWordApplication = CreateObject("Word.Application")
 objWordApplication.Visible = False
 Dim objDoc As Word.Document
 objDoc = objWordApplication.Documents.Add(myFileName)
 objDoc.Protect(Word.WdProtectionType.wdNoProtection)
 objDoc.Activate()

 ' replace Text-elements
 With objWordApplication.Selection.Find
     .Text = "Date"
     .Replacement.Text = Now.ToString("dd.MM.yyyy")
     .Execute(Replace:=Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll)

      .Text = "Name"
     .Replacement.Text = myName
     .Execute(Replace:=Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll)

     .Text = "VorName"
     .Replacement.Text = myForeName
     .Execute(Replace:=Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll)

    End With

In this sample each appearence of the keyword will be replaced by a string from my application ...

I hope it helps you ...

Posted 30-Jul-15 2:08am

Ralf Meier

Updated 30-Jul-15 8:57am

v2

Comments

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 14:51pm

@Ralf Meier,
Thank you for this solution. Well, i have to put this "Selection.Find" inside a loop. Anyway, let me try. I will sure inform you.

Ralf Meier 30-Jul-15 14:53pm

You are welcome.

I think, you don't need to put it in a loop - but I'm also not sure if I completely know what you try to achieve.
Anyway - if there are further questions feel free to contact me ... ;)

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 15:00pm

Without a loop, how do i know what the user types now. And if i don't need a loop then, do i need to add this code inside a timer's tick event ?

Ralf Meier 30-Jul-15 15:12pm

Tell me by an example what you (exactly) want to do (and when you want it to do).
I'm not quiet sure if we speak/think about the same thing ...

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 15:20pm

Ok, if user types a word in word document, my program continously monitoring what he types and search that word in a database. If text on the left side of the cursor matches to the text in database column1, then my program select the range and replace the text with a text from database column2. For getting speed replaces, i am planning to open the database at starting time and load the columns into an array.
I forgot to add an example. here it is;
assume my array (or dictionary) contains these two text -
array(0,0) = "Perso"
array(0,1) = "Personal Experience"
When user types "P", program checks for "P" in array. And when program finds that array(0,0) and text from word document is same, then it will paste the array(0,1) to word.

Ralf Meier 30-Jul-15 15:29pm

I'm not sure if you can simultaneously access the Word-Document with the User. But if it is possible you should work with a Timer.Tick (easy way) or better with a Backgroundworker or a Thread.

Anyway - if it is possible like you want to have it, my suggestion will do what you want. You don't need to know where the user is actual editing - the Selection.Find searches and replace the Keyword for you.

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 15:33pm

Thanks. I hope your suggestion will work. Let me try it. Once again thank you for the guidance. In your last comment, you said "Background worker or a thread". I need to study more on that.

Ralf Meier 30-Jul-15 14:56pm

Additional information :
It must not be only one word for the search - it will also replace a complete sequence by another sequence (which could be very much greater).

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 15:08pm

As i said earlier, the scripting language i have learned, has a function like this; "Word_DocRangeSet(Object, cursor pos, word, Backward, One word)".
Params -
1 = Word object
2 = Range start area (in this case, it is cursor position)
3 = Select a word or char or line or paragraph (in this case a word)
4 = Move selection backward or forward (in this case backward)
5 = How many words to select (in this case one word).
This function will return a range object. We then can get the text of that particular area and we can select that text, replace that text and so on.
See this, i can easily customize what i need. I don't find anything user firendly like this in vb.net.

Vinod Kc 30-Jul-15 23:23pm

@Ralf Meier,
I have tried it in a timer's tick event. But it shows me a dialoge box in word that the search is finish and there is no word like "MyGivenWord". I think it is searching through the document. I only meant to find text just behind the cursor. Not to search the whole document.

Ralf Meier 31-Jul-15 0:28am

Would you Show me your code ?
I think, with that it is easier to discuss ...

Vinod Kc 1-Aug-15 7:29am

@Ralf Meier, I just created a function for getting words behind the cursor. But it is giving just one word only. I will show you the code. Here is the Link.
http://pastebin.com/CQwAaBU0

Some notes about this code
1. I have tested BackeGroundWorker class. But i don't know how use it effectively. It gave me only a single word. I don't know how to use it inside a loop for monitoring what user types in word.
2. I have used GetAsyncKeystate function inside this code. It is only for testing. Because, i want to examine if my code is working properly. Please ask me if you want any other info. Thanks

Vinod Kc 1-Aug-15 9:21am

Hi Ralf Meier,
The code is now giving the good result. But Now, the problem is how can i run this function when my form1 is not in focus. BackgroundWorker class give only one word. And then it stopped. I don't know how to use it in a loop.

Ralf Meier 3-Aug-15 0:30am

I don't understand - you have programmed nothing for the Backgroundworker - only the Method itself, but without Content.

But ... what is with your code. Which state does it have. Is there something to look for ?

Vinod Kc 3-Aug-15 1:26am

Hi, my experiments with BackgroundWorker class was a failed. It gave me the result only once. But i need my program should monitor what the user types in ms word. And then i tried with Timer. It was a success but it gave me result in each timer tick intervel. (in my case it is 100ms) But ijust want to get the word when user press a space key. So i have addedd the GetAsyncKeypress function to this program. Now i am getting words when user presses spacebar. My qustion is - Is this the best method to do this ?. Any suggestions for improve ?

Ralf Meier 3-Aug-15 2:09am

OK ... now I understand ... :)

Another idea :
I think (like you) - to work with the Timer is the wrong Approach.
Perhaps you do it like the Visual Studio Intelli-Sense works :
Key was pressed and 3 or more letters from the word are given (and also you are in a new word with no actual Search-result).

But ... your code itself is working properly ?
Without Performance-lost for the Word-Application ? You must see : you have integrated me in your Project - so I'm interested in the results too ...

Vinod Kc 3-Aug-15 2:36am

Hi, I will sure inform you the results. Now, i am learning more about BackgroundWorker vs Thread. I have found a good article in code prejct. Thanks for the support.

Ralf Meier 3-Aug-15 3:04am

You are welcome ...

Vinod Kc 3-Aug-15 3:05am

@Ralf Meier,
I have succeeded. I used Thread. First of all, i have created a private sub and put my text catching function inside do loop in that sub. And then start a new thread with AddressOf that private sub in form load. Voila !. I don't knew that this is this much simple. Thank you for guiding me to threading. You pointed me the right direction. And ofcource, threading is so simple. Thanks a lot. :)

Ralf Meier 3-Aug-15 3:10am

No Problem ... but don't forget the following :
Working with Threads is easy if the componets you use are Thread-safe. If you work with controls (Textboxes, Grids and so on) you need to invoke them. That is a special (not very problematicly) functionality. But also for that, there are very good Topics to be found in the Internet.

Vinod Kc 3-Aug-15 4:29am

Ok. i will keep it in my mind.

Ralf Meier 3-Aug-15 3:14am

But when I resume this Topic :
I think, I don't gave you a Solution ... but I gave you another thing you needed much more : someone to talk with. I think, thats also a kind of solution. It was very interesting for me ...

Vinod Kc 3-Aug-15 4:29am

Infact, you pointed me to the right dirction. For me that is the solution. After all, i am the learner. so i need to go through the path you pointed. Anyway, it's nice to meet you in this forum. I am a hobby programmer. I do make programs for my own purpose and for learning.

How Can I Get Text At Cursor Position In Word.Application

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