VBA optimization robust code - vba

Question

So I'm completely new to VBA. I have a java-fetish so I'm not new to programming, however manipulating office documents just seemed easier with VBA.
Anyway, on topic:
I'm currently automating things in the company (This example is creating a contract). However, using Java, I always learned to make robust code and although the VBA code now works, I'm not happy with it because it requires a lot of 'friendliness' of the user. So my question is (I hope you don't mind), could you give me a nudge in the right direction to make my code way more robust?
Here's the code:
Function spaties(Name As String) As String
' Function used to ensure the length of a String (Working with Range)
Dim index As Integer
While (Len(Name) < 30)
Name = Name + " "
Wend
spaties = Name
End Function
Sub Macro3()
'
' Macro3 Macro
'
'
'ActiveDocument.Range(26101, 26102).Text = "d"
StartUndoSaver
Dim firma As String
firma = InputBox("Voor welke onderaannemer? (Zonder hoofdletters)" + Chr(10) + "(nicu, sorin of marius)")
Dim werf As String
werf = InputBox("Over welke Werf gaat het?")
Dim datum As String
datum = InputBox("Op welke datum spreekt het contract? (dd/mm/yyyy)")
With ActiveDocument
.Range(25882, 25899).Text = datum
ActiveDocument.Range(575, 605).Text = spaties(werf)
ActiveDocument.Range(1279, 1309).Text = spaties(werf)
End With
Select Case Len(firma)
Case 4
With ActiveDocument
.Range(26168, 26181).Text = "Nicu Dinita"
.Range(26062, 26088).Text = "Badi Woodconstruct SRL"
.Range(11359, 11371).Text = "Nicu Dinita"
End With
Case 5
With ActiveDocument
.Range(26168, 26181).Text = "Asavei Sorin"
.Range(26062, 26088).Text = "BELRO INTERIOR DESIGN SRL"
.Range(11359, 11371).Text = "Asavei Sorin"
End With
Case 6
With ActiveDocument
.Range(26168, 26181).Text = "Ivan Maricel"
.Range(26062, 26088).Text = "Solomon & Aaron Construct"
.Range(11359, 11371).Text = "Ivan Maricel"
End With
End Select
Dim prijs As String
Dim besch As String
Dim eenh As String
Dim hoev As Integer
hoev = InputBox("Hoeveel artikels zijn er?")
Dim index As Integer
index = 1
While (index <= hoev)
besch = InputBox("Beschrijving van het artikel (engels)")
prijs = InputBox("prijs van het artikel")
eenh = InputBox("Eenheid van het artikel")
With ActiveDocument
.Range(5701, 5702).Text = "" + vbTab + spaties2(besch, prijs, eenh) + Chr(10) + vbTab
End With
index = index + 1
Wend
With ActiveDocument.Sections(1)
.Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary).Range.Text = "Raes G. Schrijnwerken BVBA" + vbTab + vbTab + datum + Chr(10) + "Robert Klingstraat 5" + Chr(10) + "8940 Wervik"
.Footers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary).Range.Text = "Overeenkomst tot onderaanneming" + Chr(10) + "met betrekking tot:" + werf
.Footers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary).PageNumbers.Add PageNumberAlignment:=wdAlignPageNumberRight
End With
If firma = "sorin" Then
ActiveDocument.Range(254, 255).ImportFragment "Z:\Raes Netwerk DATA\professioneel\004 Sjablonen\belro.docx", False
Else
If firma = "nicu" Then
With ActiveDocument
.Range(254, 255).ImportFragment "Z:\Raes Netwerk DATA\professioneel\004 Sjablonen\Nicu.docx", False
End With
Else
If firma = "marius" Then
ActiveDocument.Range(254, 255).ImportFragment "Z:\Raes Netwerk DATA\professioneel\004 Sjablonen\Marius.docx", False
End If
End If
End If
ActiveDocument.PrintOut
ActiveDocument.PrintOut
End Sub
Function spaties2(artikel As String, prijs As String, eenh As String) As String
'Another function to ensure length of String
Dim index As Integer
Dim eind As String
eind = "" + artikel + vbTab + vbTab + prijs + "€/" + eenh
While (Len(eind) < 100)
eind = eind + " "
Wend
spaties2 = eind
End Function
As you can see, the code is very basic. And although it works, it's no good to deliver.
The two defined Functions are simply formatting the String of the user because obviously the name of something is not always the same length.
I'd like to cut out the Range properties, because in my opinion, that's what makes the program so sensitive to changes.
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
note: For the moment, the contract can have three different 'target parties' so that's why the Select Case statement is there. It's going to be completely useless if it should grow but for now it works.

Answer 1

Here's one:
sName = Left(sName & Space(30), 30)
And I think it's better to use bookmarks as placeholders instead of using Range(start, end)
How to change programmatically the text of a Word Bookmark

Answer 2

I think that your code needs some Trim's, in order to avoid mistaken spaces before and after the names (when you use some inputboxes, I mean).
And you need to verify input dates, too.
For string concatenation, use the ampersand (&) better than the plus sign (+), in order to avoid mistaken sums.
Instead of Chr(10) I have some recommendations in order to make your code more readable:
Chr(13) = vbCr
Chr(10) = vbLf
Chr(13) & Chr(10) = vbCrLf
Verify that the files you are indicating exist.

Answer 3

Using Range with numerical values is definitely not reliable. Bookmarks, as Tim suggests or content controls if this is Word 2007 or later. Content Controls are Microsoft's recommendation, going forward, but I don't see any particular advantage one way or the other for your purpose.
Looking at all the InputBox calls I have to wonder whether displaying a VBA UserForm for the input might not be better? All the input fields in one place, rather than flashing multiple prompts. You can validate for correct input before the UserForm is removed from the screen, etc.