Search for text box formatted to Layout: In line with text

Hi.

I've managed to set up a macro that hides the content of all text boxes in 
my document by searching for each text box and setting the contents' font 
colour to white.  However, it only seems to find text boxes that haven't been 
formatted to 'Layout: In line with text'.

Does anybody know way to search for and edit these text boxes as well as the 
others?

Here is the code that I am using:

Sub HideAnswers()

' Find each text box and set it's font colour to white

Dim aShape As Shape

For Each aShape In ActiveDocument.Shapes

   If aShape.Type = msoTextBox Then

      aShape.Select
      Selection.Font.Color = wdColorWhite
      
   End If

Next

End Sub

Any help would be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Dan.

I'm guessing the problem is caused by your attempt to select the text. Use 
this code instead:

Sub HideAnswers()

Dim aShape As Shape

For Each aShape In ActiveDocument.Shapes

   If aShape.Type = msoTextBox Then

      'Set the font color directly for each text box shape:
      aShape.TextFrame.ContainingRange.Font.Color = wdColorWhite

   End If

Next

End Sub


-- 
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Normally, inLine shapes and floating shapes are two different collections. 
You would have to iterate both of them. But, textboxes are different, even 
when inline they retain their "Shape" status. However, your usage of the 
Selection object is causing you grief. Only use the Selection object when you 
must (i.e. there is no other way of achieveing a result).

Try this variation of your code:

Dim aShape As Shape

For Each aShape In ActiveDocument.Shapes
    If aShape.Type = msoTextBox Then
        With aShape
            If .TextFrame.HasText Then
                .TextFrame.TextRange.Font.Color = wdColorWhite
            End If
        End With
    End If
Next

Just in case DanB (or other readers) does not know the difference between 
our two suggestions I thougth I'd clarify a small technical point...
You used the .ContainingRange property which refers to the entire range of 
text inside linked textboxes. I use the .TextRange property which refers to 
the individual range of text inside each textbox, whether they are linked or 
not. In this case, the only difference in the application is that if there 
are, let's say, 3 linked textboxes, the code with the .ContainingRange 
Property will apply the white font colour three times to the text inside the 
linked textboxes. So, in this case, it does not matter which property one 
uses, but with some other scenario, it might make a big difference!

Of course, generally it makes more sense to use .TextRange, since it returns 
the range of a *specific* shape (excluding the ranges of any linked 
shapes/text boxes). Thank you for adding this clarification.

-- 
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP