Home | Tips | Library | Other Authors | Other WP Sites | Writer's Links | Contact | Site Map | Donate

Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2010 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

[The download file CODE2TXT.ZIP contains two macros. See column at left.]

This macro can -

• change text surrounded by WordPerfect attribute codes (e.g., [Bold On]...[Bold Off]) to text surrounded by user-defined plain-text markers (e.g., <B>...</B>) or do the opposite:
• change text bracketed by user-defined text markers to WordPerfect attribute codes.

The first function (change attribute codes to text markers) is useful when converting (saving) a document to ASCII or ANSI text but you want to identify the old attributes with unique text markers, such as HTML tags or to replace WordPerfect format codes with Folio, Ventura Publisher, InDesign, or QuarkXpress markup codes, etc.

The second function (change text markers to attribute codes) can be useful to restore a document saved after converting from codes to text markers with the first function, or whenever you want to convert identical, marked strings of text to formatted text (e.g., bold, redline, etc.). Note that you can also use it to convert text marked with ordinary words (up to 20 characters) and/or symbols (inserted with <Ctrl+W>).

The WordPerfect attribute codes that can be converted (in v2.13) are:

Italics Bold Underline Double Underline Small caps Redline Strikeout Shadow Outline

Superscript Subscript Fine Small Large Very Large Extra Large Highlight *

You can select any -- or all -- of these codes from a menu. You can also choose to retain the original attributes after converting the codes/markers, and/or delete all 'empty' code pairs (i.e., a pair of on/off codes without anything between them, such as [Bold][Bold]).

Modifications

Various choices (menu checkboxes, various default text markers, etc.) that are displayed on menus when the macro plays can be set in the redlined User Modification Area at the top of the macro code. Simply open the macro with Tools, Macro, Edit and follow the instructions and examples in the Modification Area.

Known Limitations

1. The macro cannot process format codes that might have been inserted inside a WordPerfect [Style] code (including standard paragraph Headings and Outlines) or inside a [Delay] code. Because such formatting is designed to be relatively "hidden" from view, the macro does not "see" the codes that cause the formatting.

2. The macro will not process the "redline" and "strikeout" codes produced by File, Document, Review. Those codes are very different from the normal attribute codes for redline and strikeout (i.e., [Redline] and [StkOut]) accessible from the property bar (toolbar) or from Format, Font.

3. Starting with WordPerfect X4, a new Redaction feature can mark text for deletion. However, the marks are "seen" as ordinary gray highlighting by both Edit, Find and Replace and by a macro's Search commands. Hence, the macro will skip over these items in WPX4 (but not if the document is opened in WPX3 or earlier, where these codes will be seen as normal highlighting). A message will display to inform you about these codes and prompt you to deal with them separately.

4. The second choice on the initial menu ("Convert text markers to WordPerfect format codes") does not process items inside headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, or text boxes. There are limitations in the macro language that make the process unreliable with the way the macro is coded.

5. You should examine the document and make any required changes in these areas by directly editing them. You can use the File, Document, Compare method to produce a comparison with the original document, which should make it easier to find any discrepancies.

Page Top

Disclaimer

The materials and any software contained on this site are offered without warranty or guarantee of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, noninfringement, or those arising by law, statute, usage of trade, course of dealing or otherwise, and are provided on an "as is," and "with all faults" basis. The entire risk as to the results and performance of these materials is assumed by you. The author assumes no liability whatsoever to you or any other entity or third party for any special, incidental, direct, indirect, or consequential damages -- including without limitation any damages to equipment, or for loss of profits, for business interruption, for loss of data or other information, or for any other loss arising out of the use or inability to use these materials, techniques, suggestions, or software programs, even if the author has been notified of the possibility or actuality of such damages, or they are foreseeable. Materials on these pages have been prepared with reasonable care for educational and informative purposes. No representations are made regarding the use or the results of the use of any macro, suggestion, technique, or other material in terms of their correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise, and you are again cautioned that you use them solely at your own risk. You are advised to make backups of any important files before implementing any macro, suggestion, or technique. Do not assume anything here is error free.

The above Disclaimer also applies to any communication the author may have with you.

The external links on this site, or in any related materials or communications, do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of the linked sites, their visitors, or their associated owners, operators, or staff.