Variable Mapping for Microsoft Office Example: Adding a Refresh Macro

Instead of manually updating the fields that are linked to a custom variable, you can create a macro that automatically updates the fields every time a document is opened.

Without the macro, if you update the value of the linked fields by editing the file data card, the values are not automatically updated when you open the document. To update the fields, you must select them and refresh them by pressing F9.

To add a refresh macro:

  1. Start Microsoft Word.
  2. Select Tools > Macro > Macro, or press Alt + F8.
  3. For Macro name field, type AutoOpen and click Create .
  4. In the code window, insert the following macro code between Sub AutoOpen() and End Sub:
    Dim aStory As Range
  Dim aField As Field
    For Each aStory In ActiveDocument.StoryRanges
      For Each aField In aStory.Fields
        aField.Update
      Next aField
    Next aStory
  5. Save and close the code window.
The next time you open a document with fields that are linked to SOLIDWORKS PDM variables, the fields will be automatically updated.
when the fields are updated, the document is modified and Word asks if the new changes should be saved when closing the document.