Convert string to double in word (vba) - vba

Question

I am trying to convert a text in a word document to be a double, so I can do currency formatting on it. I receive this text from a mail merge. How would I create a macro that can receive this text and return it as a number?
I'm unfamiliar with word, and VBA script. What I have made so far is
Function stringToDouble(baseString As String)
Dim num As Double
num = Val(baseString)
stringToDouble = num
End Function
I'm not sure how I would call this macro. Because it takes a parameter it does not show up in the macro table.
I may be completely off on how to convert text to a double in word, but any help is appreciated.
Thanks. Please comment for any clarifications.

Answer 1

You don't need a macro for this!!! All you need do is learn how to use formatting switches in Word fields.
To control number & currency formatting in Word, add a numeric picture switch to the mergefield. To do this:
select the mergefield;
press Shift-F9 to reveal the field coding. It should look something like {MERGEFIELD MyData};
edit the field so that you get {MERGEFIELD MyData # $,0.00} (or whatever other numeric format you prefer - see below);
position the cursor anywhere in this field and press F9 to update it.
Note 1: The '# $,0.00' in the field is referred to as a numeric picture switch. Other possibilities include:
# 0 for rounded whole numbers
# ,0 for rounded whole numbers with a thousands separator
# ,0.00 for numbers accurate to two decimal places, with a thousands separator
# $,0 for rounded whole dollars with a thousands separator
# "$,0.00;($,0.00);'-'" for currency, with brackets around negative numbers and a hyphen for 0 values
Note 2: The precision of the displayed value is controlled by the '0.00'. You can use anything from '0' to '0.000000000000000'.
If you use a final ';' in the formatting switch with nothing following, (eg # "$,0.00;($,0.00);") zero values will be suppressed. Note that this suppresses 0s resulting from empty fields and from fields containing 0s.
Note 3: If you use a decimal tab or right-aligned tab to align the values, wrap the switch in quotes (i.e. # "$,0.00") and insert a tab into the field code after the $ sign, you can have the values output with the decimal alignment occurring after the $ sign.
For more Mailmerge Tips & Tricks, see: https://www.msofficeforums.com/mail-merge/21803-mailmerge-tips-tricks.html

Answer 2

If you want to convert the number to a Double data type then try this:
Function StringToDouble(ByVal baseString As String) As Double
StringToDouble = VBA.CDbl(baseString)
End Function
If you're only concerned about formatting currency, convert the string to the Currency data type like this:
Function StringToCurrency(ByVal baseString As String) As Currency
StringToCurrency = VBA.CCur(baseString)
End Function
You will still need to format the number but both functions give you a number that can be formatted.
Here's an example that also gives you a string formatted as USD (e.g. $4,999.75). It requires the StringToCurrency function above.
Sub test()
Dim stringNum As String
stringNum = "4,999.754501"
Debug.Print "stringNum=" & stringNum ' outputs 4,999.754501
Dim currencyNum As Currency
currencyNum = StringToCurrency(stringNum) ' outputs 4999.7545
Debug.Print "currencyNum=" & currencyNum
Dim formattedString As String
formattedString = Format$(currencyNum, "$#,##0.00")
Debug.Print "formattedString=" & formattedString ' outputs $4,999.75
End Sub