A macro to add, delete, and find hidden and non-hidden bookmarks in Word (184041)

SUMMARY

The following sample macros can be used to add, delete, and find hidden and non-hidden bookmarks in Word for Windows documents using Visual Basic for Applications.

WARNING: Microsoft Word uses hidden bookmarks for table of contents entries, cross-references, and captions. After stripping the hidden bookmarks from a document with cross-references, and then updating fields, all the references are lost. In their place you get one of the following error messages: "Error! Reference source not found" or "Error! Bookmark not defined."

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. You can use one of the following methods to strip bookmarks from a Word document by using Visual Basic for Applications.

Method 1: Code to Strip All Bookmarks from a Document

     Sub StripAllBookmarks()
      Dim stBookmark As Bookmark
      ActiveDocument.Bookmarks.ShowHidden = True
      If ActiveDocument.Bookmarks.Count >= 1 Then
         For Each stBookmark In ActiveDocument.Bookmarks
            stBookmark.Delete
         Next stBookmark
      End If
   End Sub

Method 2: Code to Strip Only Hidden Bookmarks from a Document

 Sub StripHiddenBookmarks()
      Dim stBookmark As Bookmark
      ActiveDocument.Bookmarks.ShowHidden = True
      If ActiveDocument.Bookmarks.Count >= 1 Then
         For Each stBookmark In ActiveDocument.Bookmarks
           If Left(stBookmark, 1) = "_" Then
              stBookmark.Delete
           End If
        Next stBookmark
      End If
   End Sub

Method 3: Code to Add a Hidden Bookmark

The following code adds a bookmark named "_HiddenBookmark1" to a document at the location of the insertion point or selection.

   Sub AddHiddenBookmark
      ActiveDocument.Bookmarks.Add Name:="_HiddenBookmark1"
   End Sub