Unfollow a Hyperlink color

[Sundog]

In Word 2007, there are times when I test a hyperlink by clicking it. Word obligingly turns its color Violet, for a Followed Hyperlink. How can I tell Word (that hyperlink) that you are no longer followed, and please turn back to Blue?

If I change the Followed Hyperlink style color to Blue, that hyperlink turns back to Blue. But I really want a Followed Hyperlink to be Violet. So I change the Followed Hyperlink color back to Violet, and Word somehow remembers that that particular hyperlink was followed, and turns it back to Violet.

How do I Unfollow a hyperlink?

[HansV]

Try clearing your browser history.

[Sundog]

Try clearing your browser history.

Hans, I don't quite understand how this applies. I'm in Word, not in a browser. All my hyperlinks are internal to the same Word document. Sorry if I didn't make that clear initially.

[HansV]

Ah! Try closing and reopening the document.

[Sundog]

That worked, thanks. That's a nuisance for large documents or if in the middle of a correction ; no other snazzy VBA way?

[HansV]

I don't think there is another way to restore a hyperlink to its pristine state, but why would it be important to do so while editing a document?

[Sundog]

If I am in the middle of a correction that is in my mind but not yet down on paper/entered into the document, need I wait to stop my brain churning, Save the document, Close the document, Open the document, find where in this large document I was, re-engage my brain, and put my fingers back to work?

[HansV]

Sorry, that's not what I meant. I don't quite understand why it would be essential to "unfollow" a hyperlink while you are busy editing the document. The hyperlink will act the same whether its state is "followed" or not.

[Sundog]

It offends the eye and raises questions, if I'm sharing my editing session with an onlooker.

I'll explain that the color will change automagically upon closing and reopening the doc.

[Don Wells]

How do I Unfollow a hyperlink?

    The following code will unfollow a link to the web. I leave it to you to expand the macro to other types of hyperlink. Call back if further assistance is required. The macro processes the first hyperlink in the selected range. I have tested this in 2003 and expect that it will work in 2007. Please let us know how it works out.

Code: Select all

See following post.

[Don Wells]

How do I Unfollow a hyperlink?

    The following code upgrades that from my previous post to unfollow links internal to the host document.

Code: Select all

Option Explicit
Sub ResetLink()
Dim lngType As Long

  lngType = Selection.Hyperlinks(1).Type
  
  Select Case lngType
  Case 0
    Call ResetWebLink
  End Select
  
End Sub
Private Sub ResetWebLink()
Dim varAddress As Variant
Dim varSubAddress As Variant
Dim varLabel As String

  With Selection
    With .Hyperlinks(1)
      .Range.Select
      varAddress = .Address
      varSubAddress = .SubAddress
      varLabel = .TextToDisplay
      .Delete
    End With
    .MoveRight wdCharacter, Len(varLabel), wdExtend
    .Hyperlinks.Add .Range, varAddress, varSubAddress, , varLabel
  End With
  
End Sub

[Sundog]

Thanks, Don! I'll try that on my (offensive) document!

[Sundog]

Don, I encounter a 5941 error when I try to run your code on a trial document with a followed hyperlink:

Err5941.JPG

Debug gives me the attached.

[Don Wells]

Don, I encounter a 5941 error when I try to run your code on a trial document with a followed hyperlink:.

Are you certain that your selection included or was part of the hyperlink? The error code says that it did not.

[Sundog]

Ah so. This time I did a Ctrl+A, and got a 5824 error, .Hyperlinks.Add .Range, varAddress, varSubAddress, , varLabel highlighted.

[Sundog]

Here is my test doc.

[Sundog]

Despite the 5824 error, when I return to my test document, the hyperlink HAS been reset to unfollowed. So something good IS happening.

[Don Wells]

Despite the 5824 error, when I return to my test document, the hyperlink HAS been reset to unfollowed. So something good IS happening.

    Sorry; but I can find no problems when testing your file in Word 2003. Perhaps one of our Loungers with 2007 can offer some comment.

[HansV]

I get the same error as Sundog in Word 2007. If I modify the code slightly, Word crashes.

[Don Wells]

I get the same error as Sundog in Word 2007. If I modify the code slightly, Word crashes.

I guess that we must put this down to the price of progress as defined by MicroSoft.