Selection Members (Word)

Article
09/15/2015

Represents the current selection in a window or pane. A selection represents either a selected (or highlighted) area in the document, or it represents the insertion point if nothing in the document is selected. There can be only one Selection object per document window pane, and only one Selection object in the entire application can be active.

Methods

Name	Description
BoldRun	Adds the bold character format to or removes it from the current run.
Calculate	Calculates a mathematical expression within a selection. Returns the result as a Single.
ClearCharacterAllFormatting	Removes all character formatting (formatting applied either through character styles or manually applied formatting) from the selected text.
ClearCharacterDirectFormatting	Removes character formatting (formatting that has been applied manually using the buttons on the ribbon or through the dialog boxes) from the selected text.
ClearCharacterStyle	Removes character formatting that has been applied through character styles from the selected text.
ClearFormatting	Removes text and paragraph formatting from a selection.
ClearParagraphAllFormatting	Removes all paragraph formatting (formatting applied either through paragraph styles or manually applied formatting) from the selected text.
ClearParagraphDirectFormatting	Removes paragraph formatting that has been applied manually (using the buttons on the ribbon or through the dialog boxes) from the selected text.
ClearParagraphStyle	Removes paragraph formatting that has been applied through paragraph styles from the selected text.
Collapse	Collapses a selection to the starting or ending position. After a selection is collapsed, the starting and ending points are equal.
ConvertToTable	Converts text within a range to a table. Returns the table as a Table object.
Copy	Copies the specified selection to the Clipboard.
CopyAsPicture	The CopyAsPicture method works the same way as the Copy method.
CopyFormat	Copies the character formatting of the first character in the selected text.
CreateAutoTextEntry	Adds a new AutoTextEntry object to the AutoTextEntries collection, based on the current selection.
CreateTextbox	Adds a default-size text box around the selection.
Cut	Removes the specified object from the document and moves it to the Clipboard.
Delete	Deletes the specified number of characters or words.
DetectLanguage	Analyzes the specified text to determine the language that it is written in.
EndKey	Moves or extends the selection to the end of the specified unit.
EndOf	Moves or extends the ending character position of a range or selection to the end of the nearest specified text unit.
EscapeKey	Cancels a mode such as extend or column select (equivalent to pressing the ESC key).
Expand	Expands the specified range or selection. Returns the number of characters added to the range or selection. Long.
ExportAsFixedFormat	Saves the current selection as PDF or XPS format. .
Extend	Turns on extend mode, or if extend mode is already on, extends the selection to the next larger unit of text.
GoTo	Moves the insertion point to the character position immediately preceding the specified item, and returns a Range object (except for the wdGoToGrammaticalError, wdGoToProofreadingError, or wdGoToSpellingError constant).
GoToEditableRange	Returns a Range object that represents an area of a document that can be modified by the specified user or group of users.
GoToNext	Returns a Range object that refers to the start position of the next item or location specified by the What argument. If you apply this method to the Selection object, the method moves the selection to the specified item (except for the wdGoToGrammaticalError, wdGoToProofreadingError, and wdGoToSpellingError constants).
GoToPrevious	Returns a Range object that refers to the start position of the previous item or location specified by the What argument. If applied to a Selection object, GoToPrevious moves the selection to the specified item. Range object.
HomeKey	Moves or extends the selection to the beginning of the specified unit. This method returns an integer that indicates the number of characters the selection was actually moved, or it returns 0 (zero) if the move was unsuccessful.This method corresponds to functionality of the HOME key.
InRange	True if the selection to which the method is applied is contained within the range specified by the Range argument.
InsertAfter	Inserts the specified text at the end of a range or selection.
InsertBefore	Inserts the specified text before the specified selection. .
InsertBreak	Inserts a page, column, or section break.
InsertCaption	Inserts a caption immediately preceding or following the specified selection.
InsertCells	Adds cells to an existing table.
InsertColumns	Inserts columns to the left of the column that contains the selection.
InsertColumnsRight	Inserts columns to the right of the current selection.
InsertCrossReference	Inserts a cross-reference to a heading, bookmark, footnote, or endnote, or to an item for which a caption label is defined (for example, an equation, figure, or table).
InsertDateTime	Inserts the current date or time, or both, either as text or as a TIME field.
InsertFile	Inserts all or part of the specified file.
InsertFormula	Inserts an = (Formula) field that contains a formula at the selection.
InsertNewPage	Inserts a new page at the position of the Insertion Point.
InsertParagraph	Replaces the specified selection with a new paragraph.
InsertParagraphAfter	Inserts a paragraph mark after a selection.
InsertParagraphBefore	Inserts a new paragraph before the specified selection or range.
InsertRows	Inserts the specified number of new rows above the row that contains the selection. If the selection isn't in a table, an error occurs.
InsertRowsAbove	Inserts rows above the current selection.
InsertRowsBelow	Inserts rows below the current selection.
InsertStyleSeparator	Inserts a special hidden paragraph mark that allows Microsoft Word to join paragraphs formatted using different paragraph styles, so lead-in headings can be inserted into a table of contents.
InsertSymbol	Inserts a symbol in place of the specified selection.
InsertXML	Inserts the specified XML into the document at the cursor, replacing any selected text.
InStory	True if the selection to which this method is applied is in the same story as the range specified by the Range argument.
IsEqual	True if the selection to which this method is applied is equal to the range specified by the Range argument.
ItalicRun	Adds the italic character format to or removes it from the current run.
LtrPara	Sets the reading order and alignment of the specified paragraphs to left-to-right.
LtrRun	Sets the reading order and alignment of the specified run to left-to-right.
Move	Collapses the specified selection to its start or end position and then moves the collapsed object by the specified number of units. This method returns a Long value that represents the number of units by which the selection was moved, or it returns 0 (zero) if the move was unsuccessful.
MoveDown	Moves the selection down and returns the number of units it has been moved.
MoveEnd	Moves the ending character position of a range or selection.
MoveEndUntil	Moves the end position of the specified selection until any of the specified characters are found in the document.
MoveEndWhile	Moves the ending character position of a selection while any of the specified characters are found in the document.
MoveLeft	Moves the selection to the left and returns the number of units it has been moved.
MoveRight	Moves the selection to the right and returns the number of units it has been moved.
MoveStart	Moves the start position of the specified selection.
MoveStartUntil	Moves the start position of the specified selection until one of the specified characters is found in the document. If the movement is backward through the document, the selection is expanded.
MoveStartWhile	Moves the start position of the specified selection while any of the specified characters are found in the document.
MoveUntil	Moves the specified selection until one of the specified characters is found in the document.
MoveUp	Moves the selection up and returns the number of units that it has been moved.
MoveWhile	Moves the specified selection while any of the specified characters are found in the document.
Next	Returns a Range object that represents the next unit relative to the specified selection.
NextField	Selects the next field.
NextRevision	Locates and returns the next tracked change as a Revision object.
NextSubdocument	Moves the selection to the next subdocument.
Paste	Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the specified selection.
PasteAndFormat	Pastes the selected table cells and formats them as specified.
PasteAppendTable	Merges pasted cells into an existing table by inserting the pasted rows between the selected rows. No cells are overwritten.
PasteAsNestedTable	Pastes a cell or group of cells as a nested table into the selection.
PasteExcelTable	Pastes and formats a Microsoft Excel table.
PasteFormat	Applies formatting copied with the CopyFormat method to the selection.
PasteSpecial	Inserts the contents of the Clipboard.
Previous	Moves the selected text by the specified number of units, and returns a Range object relative to the collapsed selection.
PreviousField	Selects and returns the previous field.
PreviousRevision	Locates and returns the previous tracked change as a Revision object.
PreviousSubdocument	Moves the selection to the previous subdocument.
ReadingModeGrowFont	Increases the size of the displayed text one point size when the document is displayed in Reading mode.
ReadingModeShrinkFont	Decreases the size of the displayed text one point size when the document is displayed in Reading mode.
RtlPara	Sets the reading order and alignment of the specified paragraphs to right-to-left.
RtlRun	Sets the reading order and alignment of the specified run to right-to-left.
Select	Selects the specified text.
SelectCell	Selects the entire cell containing the current selection.
SelectColumn	Selects the column that contains the insertion point, or selects all columns that contain the selection.
SelectCurrentAlignment	Extends the selection forward until text with a different paragraph alignment is encountered.
SelectCurrentColor	Extends the selection forward until text with a different color is encountered.
SelectCurrentFont	Extends the selection forward until text in a different font or font size is encountered.
SelectCurrentIndent	Extends the selection forward until text with different left or right paragraph indents is encountered.
SelectCurrentSpacing	Extends the selection forward until a paragraph with different line spacing is encountered.
SelectCurrentTabs	Extends the selection forward until a paragraph with different tab stops is encountered.
SelectRow	Selects the row that contains the insertion point, or selects all rows that contain the selection.
SetRange	Sets the starting and ending character positions for the selection.
Shrink	Shrinks the selection to the next smaller unit of text.
ShrinkDiscontiguousSelection	Cancels the selection of all but the most recently selected text when a selection contains multiple, unconnected selections.
Sort	Sorts the paragraphs in the specified selection.
SortAscending	Sorts paragraphs or table rows in ascending alphanumeric order.
SortDescending	Sorts paragraphs or table rows within the selection in descending alphanumeric order.
SplitTable	Inserts an empty paragraph above the first row in the selection. .
StartOf	Moves or extends the start position of the specified range or selection to the beginning of the nearest specified text unit. This method returns a Long that indicates the number of characters by which the range or selection was moved or extended. The method returns a negative number if the movement is backward through the document.
ToggleCharacterCode	Switches a selection between a Unicode character and its corresponding hexadecimal value.
TypeBackspace	Deletes the character preceding a collapsed selection (an insertion point).
TypeParagraph	Inserts a new, blank paragraph.
TypeText	Inserts the specified text.
WholeStory	Expands a selection to include the entire story.

Properties

Name	Description
Active	True if the selection in the specified window or pane is active. Read-only Boolean.
Application	Returns an Application object that represents the Microsoft Word application.
BookmarkID	Returns the number of the bookmark that encloses the beginning of the specified selection. Read-only Long.
Bookmarks	Returns a Bookmarks collection that represents all the bookmarks in a document, range, or selection. Read-only.
Borders	Returns a Borders collection that represents all the borders for the specified object.
Cells	Returns a Cells collection that represents the table cells in a selection. Read-only.
Characters	Returns a Characters collection that represents the characters in a document, range, or selection. Read-only.
ChildShapeRange	Returns a ShapeRange collection representing the child shapes contained within a selection.
Columns	Returns a Columns collection that represents all the table columns in a selection. Read-only.
ColumnSelectMode	True if column selection mode is active. Read/write Boolean.
Comments	Returns a Comments collection that represents all the comments in the specified. Read-only.
Creator	Returns a 32-bit integer that indicates the application in which the specified object was created. Read-only Long.
Document	Returns a Document object associated with the specified selection. Read-only.
Editors	Returns an Editors object that represents all the users authorized to modify a selection within a document.
End	Returns or sets the ending character position of a selection. Read/write Long.
EndnoteOptions	Returns an EndnoteOptions object that represents the endnotes in a selection.
Endnotes	Returns an Endnotes collection that represents all the endnotes conatined within a selection. Read-only.
EnhMetaFileBits	Returns a Variant that represents a picture representation of how a selection or range of text appears.
ExtendMode	True if Extend mode is active. Read/write Boolean.
Fields	Returns a read-only Fields collection that represents all the fields in the selection.
Find	Returns a Find object that contains the criteria for a find operation. Read-only.
FitTextWidth	Returns or sets the width (in the current measurement units) in which Microsoft Word fits the text in the current selection. Read/write Single.
Flags	Returns or sets properties of the selection. Read/write WdSelectionFlags.
Font	Returns or sets a Font object that represents the character formatting of the specified object. Read/write.
FootnoteOptions	Returns FootnoteOptions object that represents the footnotes in a selection.
Footnotes	Returns a Footnotes collection that represents all the footnotes in a range, selection, or document. Read-only.
FormattedText	Returns or sets a Range object that includes the formatted text in the specified range or selection. Read/write.
FormFields	Returns a FormFields collection that represents all the form fields in the selection. Read-only.
Frames	Returns a Frames collection that represents all the frames in a selection. Read-only.
HasChildShapeRange	True if the selection contains child shapes. Read-only Boolean.
HeaderFooter	Returns a HeaderFooter object for the specified selection. Read-only.
HTMLDivisions	Returns an HTMLDivisions object that represents an HTML division in a Web document.
Hyperlinks	Returns a Hyperlinks collection that represents all the hyperlinks in the specified selection. Read-only.
Information	Returns information about the specified selection. Read-only Variant.
InlineShapes	Returns an InlineShapes collection that represents all the InlineShape objects in a selection. Read-only.
IPAtEndOfLine	True if the insertion point is at the end of a line that wraps to the next line. Read-only Boolean.
IsEndOfRowMark	True if the specified selection or range is collapsed and is located at the end-of-row mark in a table. Read-only Boolean.
LanguageDetected	Returns or sets a Boolean that specifies whether Microsoft Word has detected the language of the selected text.
LanguageID	Returns or sets the language for the specified object. Read/write .
LanguageIDFarEast	Returns or sets an East Asian language for the specified object. Read/write WdLanguageID.
LanguageIDOther	Returns or sets the language for the specified object. Read/write WdLanguageID.
NoProofing	True if the spelling and grammar checker ignores the specified text. Returns wdUndefined if the NoProofing property is set to True for only some of the specified text. Read/write Long.
OMaths	Returns an OMaths collection that represents the OMath objects within the current selection. Read-only.
Orientation	Returns or sets the orientation of text in a selection when the Text Direction feature is enabled. Read/write WdTextOrientation.
PageSetup	Returns a PageSetup object that's associated with the specified selection.
ParagraphFormat	Returns or sets a ParagraphFormat object that represents the paragraph settings for the specified selection. Read/write.
Paragraphs	Returns a Paragraphs collection that represents all the paragraphs in the specified selection. Read-only.
Parent	Returns an Object that represents the parent object of the specified Selection object.
PreviousBookmarkID	Returns the number of the last bookmark that starts before or at the same place as the specified selection or range; returns 0 (zero) if there is no corresponding bookmark. Read-only Long.
Range	Returns a Range object that represents the portion of a document that's contained in the specified object.
Rows	Returns a Rows collection that represents all the table rows in a range, selection, or table. Read-only.
Sections	Returns a Sections collection that represents the sections in the specified selection. Read-only.
Sentences	Returns a Sentences collection that represents all the sentences in the selection. Read-only.
Shading	Returns a Shading object that refers to the shading formatting for the specified selection.
ShapeRange	Returns a ShapeRange collection that represents all the Shape objects in the selection. Read-only.
Start	Returns or sets the starting character position of a selection. Read/write Long.
StartIsActive	True if the beginning of the selection is active. Read/write Boolean.
StoryLength	Returns the number of characters in the story that contains the specified selection. Read-only Long.
StoryType	Returns the story type for the specified selection. Read-only WdStoryType.
Style	Returns or sets the style for the specified object. To set this property, specify the local name of the style, an integer, a WdBuiltinStyle constant, or an object that represents the style. For a list of valid constants, consult the Microsoft Visual Basic Object Browser. Read/write Variant.
Tables	Returns a Tables collection that represents all the tables in the specified selection. Read-only.
Text	Returns or sets the text in the specified selection. Read/write String.
TopLevelTables	Returns a Tables collection that represents the tables at the outermost nesting level in the current selection. Read-only.
Type	Returns the selection type. Read-only WdSelectionType.
WordOpenXML	Returns a String that represents the XML contained within the selection in the Microsoft Word Open XML format. Read-only.
Words	Returns a Words collection that represents all the words in a selection. Read-only.
XML	Returns a String that represents the XML text in the specified object. .
XMLNodes	Returns an XMLNodes collection that represents the collection of all XML elements within a selection—including those elements that are only partially within the selection.
XMLParentNode	Returns an XMLNode object that represents the parent node of a selection.

Selection Members (Word)

Methods

Properties

Additional resources