Using VBA to allow a checkbox to hide/show content in Microsoft Word

Question

I've gone through a number of tutorials and instructional videos trying to achieve my intended result of simply allowing a checkbox in my form to hide content when selected, or re-show it when being de-selected, but nothing seems to be working.

Currently, I've created a bookmark for the content I want hidden, and try to call his this in VBA with the following statement - which a number of resources indicated as the solution:

Private Sub CheckBox1_Click()
ActiveDocument.Bookmarks("bookmark").Range.Font.Hidden = CheckBox1.Value
End Sub

But despite doing this, selecting the checkbox has no affect on the content.

Is there something additional I'm missing (I'm using Microsoft Word 2013).

Answer 1

Your code worked fine when I tested it, but I ran into a few issues since I've never messed with userforms/checkboxs in Word VBA and I suspect you may have the same.

For instance, the first thing I did was create Insert --> Module. This is incorrect. What you want to do is Insert --> Userform then drag a checkbox over from the ToolBox

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/use-check-boxes-word-54673.html

Then double click the checkbox to bring up the "module" it would run, notice there is no module in the side pane! Edit the module, then go back to the userform and press F5. You should be presented with a checkbox that will hide/unhide your text.

Here is my module:

Public Sub CheckBox1_Click()
   ActiveDocument.Bookmarks("bookmark").Range.Font.Hidden = CheckBox1.Value
End Sub

Here is an image:

Note: I didn't test how to insert the checkbox into the word doc, I'll leave you some of the learning!

Update:

This sub will make the CheckBox appear when run, but I'm not sure the logic you would use to call it, perhaps an event like opening of document?

Sub Loadform()
Load UserForm1
UserForm1.Show
End Sub

This could be called via a keyboard shortcut or event, but this will cause a "pop-up window". If you want an inform checkbox you may need to look into using this Legacy Form/Checkbox. I was following the URL from above but I think it's dated.

Update:

You could also add this easily to a toolbar, but that isn't likely what you want. I found the best way is to use a "field code" see --> https://word.tips.net/T001571_Assigning_a_Macro_to_a_Button_in_Your_Text.html

I was able to get this to work by pressing CTRL + F9 then typing { MacroButton Loadform ClickMe} then clicking this text. This may be the best bet as using an image seems not to be a great idea.. (https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/using-graphic-with-macrobutton/a9c1ef3b-cf1f-48ba-92a8-c44bffcdc131) & (http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/parts/macrobutton_fields.htm#Different_behavior)

Gif Example: