In this video, we walkthrough the code line-by-line.
Word macros have a bad rep because of all the nasties that have occurred in the past, but as we’ll see, when you look at the code itself (and follow along) there’s nothing to be concerned about.
You may or may not have to watch this several times to work out what’s going on, but that’s okay. It’ll all become apparent in the subsequent videos when we actually run through what’s happening on an already saved document and on a new, blank document that hasn’t been saved.
If you’re new to VBA, it might sound a bit gobbledygook, but it should all become clear when I run through the code in the subsequent videos and examples.
Naturally, this video will be here to refer back to as often as you like.
In the next video, we will look at the code and how it works with a blank document.
Templates File Path
The filepath to your templates folder is:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
Where {username} is your logged in username, i.e. if I was logged in as Russ, the file path would be:
C:\Users\Russ\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
Get the VBA Code and Your Templates File Path
Note: Such are the times we live in that I have to say ‘use this code at your own risk’. I use it myself and it works perfectly for me. However, I have zero control over how you use it and if something goes wrong, then that’s down to you. You can see the code in use in the videos, you can see what it does. If that works for you and you can use it, go for it; if it doesn’t, or you don’t want to do it, that’s fine — it’s your choice. But I have zero liability here and by downloading/using the code, you acknowledge that. If you don’t, don’t use it.
Click here to download the text file containing the ‘Save as’ code.
Sub save_new_filename()
'Declare variables
Dim mystr As String 'this gets the current date and time
Dim filepath As String 'this gets the file path property value for the filename
Dim filetitle As String 'this gets the title name for the filename
Dim fullstring As String 'this variable is used to collate file path, title, and date and used for the 'save as'
Dim Response As Integer 'we need this for the msgbox response
Dim xdlg As Dialog 'this is for when we need to show the save as dialog
'===================================================================
'================= Save the file? ===================
'===================================================================
'If the file hasn't been saved and there's no title property, then prompt for it.
'If the user declines, then the save as dialog shows.
If (ActiveDocument.path = "") And ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties(wdPropertyTitle).Value = "" Then
Response = MsgBox("We need a title... Click Yes to open the dialog or No to abort.", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Exit?")
Select Case Response
Case vbYes
Call show_docinformation_panel
Case vbNo
Set xdlg = Dialogs(wdDialogFileSaveAs)
xdlg.Show
End Select
ElseIf (ActiveDocument.path = "") And ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties(wdPropertyTitle).Value <> "" Then
Set xdlg = Dialogs(wdDialogFileSaveAs)
xdlg.Show
End If
'========================================================================
'================= If no title exists, prompt for one ===================
'========================================================================
'If there is no title property, then the message box will open and notify.
'There are 2 responses: Yes, opens the doc info panel; no, closes the messagebox and ends this subroutine, i.e. returns to the document with no changes made
If ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties(wdPropertyTitle).Value = "" Then
Response = MsgBox("We need a title... Click Yes to open the dialog or No to abort.", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Exit?")
Select Case Response
Case vbYes
Call show_docinformation_panel
Case vbNo
Exit Sub
End Select
End If
'There might be a case where the user clicked Yes to add a title, and then cancelled before adding it
'In this case, this clause prevents the file from saving without a title
If ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties(wdPropertyTitle).Value = "" Then
MsgBox "No title entered."
Exit Sub
End If
'========================================================================
'========= Now we collate the above into a new filename and save ========
'========================================================================
'Here we assign the properties to easier to remember items. We don't have to do this, as there's enough info above,
'but it makes it much easier to follow what's happening
filepath = ActiveDocument.path & ""
filetitle = ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties(wdPropertyTitle).Value
mystr = Format(Now, "yymmdd_hhmm")
'Now we've defined the 3 properties or components required, we bring them all together
fullstring = filepath & filetitle & "_" & mystr & ".docx"
'The following line saves the new filename in the correct format for a docx file
ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:=fullstring, FileFormat:=wdFormatXMLDocument
End Sub
Sub show_docinformation_panel()
On Error Resume Next
If Application.DisplayDocumentInformationPanel = True Then
Application.DisplayDocumentInformationPanel = False
ElseIf Application.DisplayDocumentInformationPanel = False Then
Application.DisplayDocumentInformationPanel = True
End If
End SubNote: as far as I am aware, all the above code is my own/gleaned and modified for my own use from public online sources. If you believe I’ve copied someone else’s and not credited them, then let me know and I’ll be happy to change that.
