How to: Insert Text into Word Documents

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Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:

Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (version 3.0)

How to: Insert Text into Word Documents

Applies to
The information in this topic applies only to the specified Visual Studio Tools for Office projects and versions of Microsoft Office. Project type Document-level projects Application-level projects Microsoft Office version Word 2003 Word 2007 For more information, see Features Available by Application and Project Type.

Applies to

The information in this topic applies only to the specified Visual Studio Tools for Office projects and versions of Microsoft Office.

Project type

Document-level projects
Application-level projects

Microsoft Office version

Word 2003
Word 2007

For more information, see Features Available by Application and Project Type.

There are three primary ways to insert text into Microsoft Office Word documents:

Insert text in a range.
Replace text in a range with new text.
Use the TypeText method of a Selection object to insert text at the cursor or selection.
Note:
You can also insert text into content controls and bookmarks. For more information, see Content Controls and Bookmark Control.

Note:
You can also insert text into content controls and bookmarks. For more information, see Content Controls and Bookmark Control.

Inserting Text in a Range

Use the Text property of a Range object to insert text in a document.

To insert text in a range

Specify a range at the beginning of a document and insert the text New Text.

The following code example can be used in a document-level customization.

Visual Basic

Dim rng As Word.Range = Me.Range(Start:=0, End:=0)
rng.Text = " New Text "

object start = 0; 
object end = 0; 

Word.Range rng = this.Range(ref start, ref end); 
rng.Text = "New Text";

The following code example can be used in an application-level add-in. This code uses the active document.

Visual Basic

Dim rng As Word.Range = Me.Application.ActiveDocument.Range(Start:=0, End:=0)
rng.Text = " New Text "

object start = 0;
object end = 0;

Word.Range rng = this.Application.ActiveDocument.Range(
    ref start, ref end);
rng.Text = "New Text";

Select the Range object, which has expanded from one character to the length of the inserted text.
Visual Basic
rng.Select()
C#
rng.Select();

Replacing Text in a Range

If the specified range contains text, all text in the range is replaced with the inserted text.

To replace text in a range

Create a Range object that consists of the first 12 characters in the document.

The following code example can be used in a document-level customization.

Visual Basic

Dim rng As Word.Range = Me.Range(Start:=0, End:=12)

object start = 0; 
object end = 12; 

Word.Range rng = this.Range(ref start, ref end);

The following code example can be used in an application-level add-in. This code uses the active document.

Visual Basic

Dim rng As Word.Range = Me.Application.ActiveDocument.Range(Start:=0, End:=12)

object start = 0;
object end = 12;

Word.Range rng = this.Application.ActiveDocument.Range(
    ref start, ref end);

Replace those characters with the string New Text.
Visual Basic
rng.Text = " New Text "
C#
rng.Text = "New Text";
Select the range.
Visual Basic
rng.Select()
C#
rng.Select();

Inserting Text Using TypeText

The TypeText method inserts text at the selection. TypeText behaves differently depending on the options set on the user's computer. The code in the following procedure declares a Selection object variable, and turns off the Overtype option if it is turned on. If the Overtype option is activated, then any text next to the cursor is overwritten.

To insert text using the TypeText method

Declare a Selection object variable.

Visual Basic

Dim currentSelection As Word.Selection = Application.Selection

Word.Selection currentSelection = Application.Selection;

Turn off the Overtype option if it is turned on.

Visual Basic

If Application.Options.Overtype Then
    Application.Options.Overtype = False
End If

if (Application.Options.Overtype) 
{ 
    Application.Options.Overtype = false; 
}

Test to see whether the current selection is an insertion point.

If it is, the code inserts a sentence using TypeText, and then a paragraph mark using the TypeParagraph method.

Visual Basic

With currentSelection

    ' Test to see if selection is an insertion point.
    If .Type = Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionIP Then
        .TypeText("Inserting at insertion point. ")
        .TypeParagraph()

// Test to see if selection is an insertion point.
if (currentSelection.Type == Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionIP) 
{ 
    currentSelection.TypeText("Inserting at insertion point. ");
    currentSelection.TypeParagraph(); 
}

The code in the ElseIf block tests to see whether the selection is a normal selection. If it is, then another If block tests to see whether the ReplaceSelection option is turned on. If it is, the code uses the Collapse method of the selection to collapse the selection to an insertion point at the start of the selected block of text. Insert the text and a paragraph mark.

Visual Basic

ElseIf .Type = Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionNormal Then
    ' Move to start of selection.
    If Application.Options.ReplaceSelection Then
        .Collapse(Direction:=Word.WdCollapseDirection.wdCollapseStart)
    End If
    .TypeText("Inserting before a text block. ")
    .TypeParagraph()

else 
    if (currentSelection.Type == Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionNormal)
    { 
        // Move to start of selection.
        if (Application.Options.ReplaceSelection)
        { 
            object direction = Word.WdCollapseDirection.wdCollapseStart;
            currentSelection.Collapse(ref direction);
        }
        currentSelection.TypeText("Inserting before a text block. ");
        currentSelection.TypeParagraph();
    }

If the selection is not an insertion point or a block of selected text, then the code in the Else block does nothing.
Visual Basic
Else ' Do nothing. End If
C#
else { // Do nothing. }

You can also use the TypeBackspace method of the Selection object, which mimics the functionality of the BACKSPACE key on your keyboard. However, when it comes to inserting and manipulating text, the Range object offers you more control.

The following example shows the complete code. To use this example, run the code from the ThisDocument or ThisAddIn class in your project.

Visual Basic

Friend Sub SelectionInsertText()
    Dim currentSelection As Word.Selection = Application.Selection

    ' Store the user's current Overtype selection
    Dim userOvertype As Boolean = Application.Options.Overtype

    ' Make sure Overtype is turned off.
    If Application.Options.Overtype Then
        Application.Options.Overtype = False
    End If

    With currentSelection

        ' Test to see if selection is an insertion point.
        If .Type = Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionIP Then
            .TypeText("Inserting at insertion point. ")
            .TypeParagraph()

        ElseIf .Type = Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionNormal Then
            ' Move to start of selection.
            If Application.Options.ReplaceSelection Then
                .Collapse(Direction:=Word.WdCollapseDirection.wdCollapseStart)
            End If
            .TypeText("Inserting before a text block. ")
            .TypeParagraph()

            Else
                ' Do nothing.
            End If
    End With

    ' Restore the user's Overtype selection
    Application.Options.Overtype = userOvertype
End Sub

private void SelectionInsertText() 
{ 
    Word.Selection currentSelection = Application.Selection; 

    // Store the user's current Overtype selection
    bool userOvertype = Application.Options.Overtype;

    // Make sure Overtype is turned off.
    if (Application.Options.Overtype) 
    { 
        Application.Options.Overtype = false; 
    } 

    // Test to see if selection is an insertion point.
    if (currentSelection.Type == Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionIP) 
    { 
        currentSelection.TypeText("Inserting at insertion point. ");
        currentSelection.TypeParagraph(); 
    } 
    else 
        if (currentSelection.Type == Word.WdSelectionType.wdSelectionNormal)
        { 
            // Move to start of selection.
            if (Application.Options.ReplaceSelection)
            { 
                object direction = Word.WdCollapseDirection.wdCollapseStart;
                currentSelection.Collapse(ref direction);
            }
            currentSelection.TypeText("Inserting before a text block. ");
            currentSelection.TypeParagraph();
        }
        else
        {
            // Do nothing.
        }

    // Restore the user's Overtype selection
    Application.Options.Overtype = userOvertype;
}

Tasks

How to: Format Text in Documents

How to: Define and Select Ranges in Documents

How to: Extend Ranges in Documents