Word application on close

There are two basic ways to capture when any Word document closes:

1. Use a macro named AutoClose in any module of Normal.dotm (or any template loaded as an add-in). This is the «old-fashioned» way that comes from the WordBasic (Word 2.0 and 6.0) days.

Note that if any other document (or template) has AutoClose that this will over-ride the macro running a «more general» level. In other words, the document- (or template-) specific code takes priority.

Sub AutoClose()
  MsgBox "The document " & ActiveDocument.FullName & " is closing."
End Sub

1. Work with an application-level event. This requires both a class module and a «plain» module. The event code is in the class module; the code to initialize the class must be in a «plain» module.

This event’s name is DocumentBeforeClose and can be cancelled, both by the user and by code (see the Cancel parameter in the event signature).

In contrast to AutoClose, if more than one document or template has the event running all will fire — there is no priority or «override».

Class module named clsEvents

Public WithEvents app As Word.Application

Private Sub app_DocumentBeforeClose(ByVal Doc As Document, Cancel As Boolean)
  MsgBox "The document " & Doc.FullName & " is being closed."
End Sub

Module

Public myEvents As New clsEvents

Public Sub StartEvents()
    Set myEvents.app = Word.Application
End Sub

Public Sub EndEvents()
    Set myEvents.app = Nothing
End Sub

Note that if both types of event are present the AutoClose fires after DocumentBeforeClose.

Note also that there is a document-specific event that will fire only for that document: Document_Close. This event must be in the ThisDocument class module of that document.

Private Sub Document_Close()

End Sub

Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Keeping Word Open after Closing Documents.

Paul notes that in Excel he can close all workbooks and the application still remains active. He would like to be able to close all the documents in Word and have the program still remain open, as well. He wonders if there is some way to configure Word to behave in this way.

How the Word program behaves when you close the last document can vary, depending on your version of Word. That it, it varies if you use the Close button in the upper-right corner of the screen to close your documents.

If you want to make sure that the program remains open after closing all documents, you should make sure that you should click the document Close button instead of the program Close button. You can tell the difference between the two because the program Close button has a 3-D appearance while the document Close button does not. In addition, the document Close button is located lower on the screen than the program Close button. Click the document Close button, and the program window should remain open whether it contains documents or not.

You can also choose to close documents by using one of two shortcuts: either Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4. Using either one is the same as clicking on the document Close button. When the last document is open and you use one of these shortcuts, the document is closed, but the program window remains open.

Author Bio

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen…

1. 06-11-2008, 08:41 AM

   
   

   #1

   Solved: Running macro on word document close, stopping close
   

   I am trying to put some data checking into a word document to check for a formfield value, and if the formfield is empty, but only on document close

   with the warning I need it to prompt the user, and to not allow closure of the document until this field is filled in.

   I have the code to do the check, and to give the warning message, but don’t know how to stop closing the document.

   Here’s what I have:

   [vba]Private Sub Document_Close()

   With ActiveDocument
   If .FormFields(«chkMale»).CheckBox.Value = False And _
   .FormFields(«chkFemale»).CheckBox.Value = False Then
   MsgBox «Please say what gender this person is», vbInformation, «~Missing Info~»
   Exit Sub ‘I thought this would do it, but obviously not
   Else
   MsgBox «‘Tis Fine!»,vbinformation,»Title»
   End If
   End With

   End Sub[/vba]

   Last edited by OTWarrior; 06-12-2008 at 01:42 AM.

   Reason: spelling in title

   -Once my PC stopped working, so I kicked it……Then it started working again

   ---

2. 06-11-2008, 09:22 AM

   
   

   #2

   Use DocClose.
   [vba]
   Sub DocClose()
   Dim response
   response = MsgBox(«Yes or no», vbYesNo)
   If response = vbYes Then
   ActiveDocument.Close
   Else
   MsgBox «Sorry…I am not going to close the document.»
   Exit Sub
   End If
   End Sub

   [/vba]Neither File > Close, OR the «X» Close button, will close the document unless you click «Yes.»

   Please use the underscore character when posting code. Thanks.

   ---

3. 06-12-2008, 01:51 AM

   
   

   #3

   Unfortunately, DocClose doesn’t fire on the close event (or it doesn’t on my pc, word 2003 if that helps).

   If I call your code from within document_close, it does still close not matter which option I choose

   Thanks for the help though.

   ps: sorry about the long line, I have amended it

   -Once my PC stopped working, so I kicked it……Then it started working again

   ---

4. 06-12-2008, 07:25 AM

   
   

   #4

   I have figured out that you can stop word from closing using ctrl+break, but when I used it in the code, it doesn’t always fire. it has more chance to fire if there is a «Stop» command before it.

   [VBA]Private Sub Document_Close()
   Dim response
   response = MsgBox(«Yes or no», vbYesNo)
   If response = vbNo Then
   MsgBox «Sorry…I am not going to close the document.»
   Else
   End If
   Stop
   SendKeys «^({BREAK})»
   End Sub[/VBA]

   Alas; this still does not fix it, but is one step closer I feel.

   -Once my PC stopped working, so I kicked it……Then it started working again

   ---

5. 06-12-2008, 09:58 AM

   
   

   #5

   How interesting. It works for me. With DocClose, if I click the «X» button, OR File > Close I get the message, and if I do not click Yes, it does NOT close.

   Hmmmm.

   «If I call your code from within document_close, it does still close not matter which option I choose»

   But I do NOT call it from Document_Close. It will not work from Document_Close. That is a completely separate event. It has to be an independent Sub in a standard module.

   ---

6. 06-12-2008, 10:02 AM

   
   

   #6

   Just to reiterate, you are using:

   Private Sub Document_Close()

   Mine is (and I posted it as such):

   Sub DocClose()

   They are NOT the same. DocClose is the final closing routine, so it is THERE that you want your stuff.

   If you execute instructions in Document_Close, the «normal» (built-in) instructions in DocClose will still execute. You must overwrite DocClose itself.

   ---

7. 06-13-2008, 12:30 AM

   
   

   #7

   I copied your code exactly as you posted it, and tried it in both ThisDocument and a standard module, and it will not execute.

   What am I doing wrong? Does it need to go into a particular place?

   -Once my PC stopped working, so I kicked it……Then it started working again

   ---

8. 06-13-2008, 01:15 AM

   
   

   #8

   I just tried all the close methods, and it only fires on my computer when you close the document using the «X» menu button, not word. When it does fire from here, it works perfectly.

   Now I need to figure out how fire it when word closes, not just the document.

   Thanks for your help, I appreciate it

   Last edited by OTWarrior; 06-13-2008 at 01:25 AM.

   Reason: sudden revelation

   -Once my PC stopped working, so I kicked it……Then it started working again

   ---

9. 06-13-2008, 08:58 AM

   
   

   #9

   Excuse me, but you wrote:

   «only on document close»

   You never mentioned closing Word itself. Your initial code was using Document_Close…again, not Word itself.

   Hmmm, I think you will have to use WithEvents…I think. Let me check it out.

   Hmmmm…no luck so far. I made a Class, and tried using Quit to intercept closing Word itself, but I can not (so far) make it work the way you want. Tony? Steve?

   ---

10. 06-13-2008, 09:55 AM

    
    

    #10

    Originally Posted by fumei

    Hmmmm…no luck so far. I made a Class, and tried using Quit to intercept closing Word itself, but I can not (so far) make it work the way you want. Tony? Steve?

    Hi Gerry,

    Is it ok if it is me….? Been a long time my friend!

    Hi OT,

    The answer to your problem is making use of Word Application Events. Some of these events have a Cancel parameter.

    For your particular case you can use the DocumentBeforeClose application event.

    To use application events do the following:
    a. In your project add a new Class module.
    b. Rename the module to (for instance): oAppClass
    b. In this module paste the following code:
    [VBA]
    Option Explicit
    Public WithEvents oApp As Word.Application
    Private Sub oApp_DocumentBeforeClose(ByVal Doc As Document, Cancel As Boolean)
    Dim response As Integer
    response = MsgBox(«Close, Yes or no?», vbYesNo + vbQuestion)

    If response <> vbYes Then
    Cancel = True
    MsgBox «Sorry…I am not going to close the document.»
    End If
    End Sub

    [/VBA]
    c. This class needs to be instantiated so add a new (normal) module.
    d. in this module paste the following code:
    [VBA]
    Option Explicit
    Dim oAppClass As New oAppClass
    Public Sub AutoOpen()
    Set oAppClass.oApp = Word.Application
    End Sub

    [/VBA]

    Save the lot close and reopen to test.
    I’ve added a sample file as attachment for you to test.

    HTH

    _________
    Groetjes,

    Joost Verdaasdonk
    M.O.S. Master

    Mark your thread solved, when it has been, by hitting the Thread Tools dropdown at the top of the thread.

    (I don’t answer questions asked through E-mail or PM’s)

    ---

11. 06-13-2008, 10:21 AM

    
    

    #11

    Of course MOS! You beat me to it. Just came up with that myself.

    ---

12. 06-13-2008, 11:03 AM

    
    

    #12

    Originally Posted by fumei

    Of course MOS! You beat me to it. Just came up with that myself.

    Of course you would Gerry, it was a case of specifications!

    _________
    Groetjes,

    Joost Verdaasdonk
    M.O.S. Master

    Mark your thread solved, when it has been, by hitting the Thread Tools dropdown at the top of the thread.

    (I don’t answer questions asked through E-mail or PM’s)

    ---

13. 06-13-2008, 11:25 AM

    
    

    #13

    Hi Joost, about time you raised your ugly antlers around here……good to see you. Of course this couldn’t be just a simple fix as «Word is different»

    Steve
    «Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.»
    -Abraham Lincoln

    ---

14. 06-13-2008, 11:46 AM

    
    

    #14

    Hi Steve,

    Nice to see you haven’t lost your touch! (thanks for the nudge)

    Originally Posted by lucas

    «Word is different»

    Just like me Steve… just like me

    _________
    Groetjes,

    Joost Verdaasdonk
    M.O.S. Master

    Mark your thread solved, when it has been, by hitting the Thread Tools dropdown at the top of the thread.

    (I don’t answer questions asked through E-mail or PM’s)

    ---

15. 06-13-2008, 11:59 PM

    
    

    #15

    b. Rename the module to (for instance): oAppClass

    This code looks great but apparently I have never had occasion to rename a Word module. Perhaps, others are abit behind as well. I’m sure it’s easy but I can’t seem to rename a module and trial the code… and the code doesn’t work if you don’t. I’m sure We would appreciate some more comments and learning if you have abit more time. Dave

    ---

16. 06-14-2008, 07:43 AM

    
    

    #16

    Originally Posted by Dave

    This code looks great but apparently I have never had occasion to rename a Word module.

    Hi Dave,

    Sure, after you’ve inserted the module (menu insert):
    a. Just select that module
    b. Call the properties screen (F4)
    c. In there it has a name property you can change.

    HTH

    _________
    Groetjes,

    Joost Verdaasdonk
    M.O.S. Master

    Mark your thread solved, when it has been, by hitting the Thread Tools dropdown at the top of the thread.

    (I don’t answer questions asked through E-mail or PM’s)

    ---

17. 06-16-2008, 12:19 AM

    
    

    #17

    Wow, lots of responses…thanks guys, you have been a tremendious help.

    Sorry about the confusion Fumei, I asumed that when you close word, word will fire a «close document» type of proceedure. The Users of this document aren’t very technically inclinded, so I should have been clearer with what I wanted, but thank you for the help.

    Your code worked perfectly Mos Master (I only tried adding it to my document, and it it flawless) so thanks for your time with this. I will now close the thread

    -Once my PC stopped working, so I kicked it……Then it started working again

    ---

18. 06-16-2008, 02:08 AM

    
    

    #18

    Originally Posted by OTWarrior

    Your code worked perfectly Mos Master (I only tried adding it to my document, and it it flawless) so thanks for your time with this. I will now close the thread

    Hi OT,

    Your welcome, glad I could help!

    _________
    Groetjes,

    Joost Verdaasdonk
    M.O.S. Master

    Mark your thread solved, when it has been, by hitting the Thread Tools dropdown at the top of the thread.

    (I don’t answer questions asked through E-mail or PM’s)

    ---

19. 10-13-2008, 12:18 PM

    
    

    #19

    Thank you for sharing!
    

    I’ve been beating my head on the wall for an hour trying to figure out how to do this… I’ve never coded anything in VB and my job needed a way to remind people to update the document properties and version history in MS Word. I knew it could be done and this definately helps get me started down the right path.

    Again, Thanks

    ---

20. 08-14-2014, 09:28 PM

    
    

    #20

    Dear MOS MASTER thank you for this code. You have helped me so much !!!

    ---

Word COM on Close event capture
Topic is solved

wdApp := ComObjCreate("Word.Application") ;create a word app
wdApp.Visible := true
oConnect := ComObjConnect(wdApp,"wd_") ;connect to events
wdApp.Documents.Add() ;add a new document


wd_NewDocument(Doc,App) { ;when creating a new document, this triggers
    MsgBox, % Doc.Name                          ; Show the name of the new document
    App.Selection.TypeText("Hello world")       ; Type text at the current selection
}

wd_Close(Doc,App) ;<------------  Here is the problem, I've tried wd_Close,wd_Quit and wd_Exit with no success
    MsgBox, % App.Name ; Show the name of the application
    ComObjConnect(App) ; Disconnect from App events
}

#Persistent
wdApp := ComObjCreate("Word.Application") ;create a word app
wdApp.Visible := true
oConnect := ComObjConnect(wdApp,"wd_") ;connect to events
wdApp.Documents.Add() ;add a new document


wd_NewDocument(Doc,App) { ;when creating a new document, this triggers
    MsgBox, % Doc.Name                          ; Show the name of the new document
    App.Selection.TypeText("Hello world")       ; Type text at the current selection
}

wd_Quit(App) 
{ 
	MsgBox, % "Yes it's done"    
}

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