Build Google Search String From Selected Text

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This Microsoft Word Tips & Microsoft Word Help page provides a handy VBA tool to easily create a Google search string from selected text.

For example, let's use the snippet of text shown below.

Install then execute the following macro:

See: Installing Macros for instructions on how to set up and use the macros provided in this Microsoft Word Help & Microsoft Word Tips page.

VBA Script:

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Sub SrchGoogle()
Dim pStr As String, pSrcText As String, pChar As String, URL As String
Dim i As Long
  pStr = Selection.Text
  i = 1
  For i = 1 To Len(pStr)
    pChar = Mid(pStr, i, 1)
    pSrcText = pSrcText + EncodeUTF8(pChar)
  Next i
'%22 is needed at the begining and the end of the string, so Google searches on the whole string
  URL = "http://www.google.com/search?q=%22" & pSrcText & "%22"
'Note, if the length is more than 487, transmited url will be shorted.
  ActiveDocument.Hyperlinks.Add Anchor:=Selection.Range, Address:= _
    URL, ScreenTip:="Search this text with Google", _
    TextToDisplay:=Selection.Text
End Sub

Public Function EncodeUTF8(ByVal pCar As String) As String
Dim CarVal As Long
Dim Sextet As Long
Dim Quintet As Long
Dim Sextet1 As Long
Dim Sextet2 As Long
Dim Quartet As Long
CarVal = AscW(pCar)
'Ensure positive code point values
If CarVal < 0 Then CarVal = CarVal + 65536
Select Case CarVal
'Case ASCII, 1 byte coding, 7 significant bits
Case Is < 128
EncodeUTF8 = pCar
'Case 2 bytes coding, 8 to 11 significant bits (5 bits, then 6 bits)
Case Is > 127, Is < 2048
Sextet = 128 + CarVal Mod 64
CarVal = CarVal \ 64
Quartet = 224 + CarVal
EncodeUTF8 = "%" + Hex(Quartet) + "%" + Hex(Sextet1) + "%" + Hex(Sextet2)
End Select
End Function

The link is inserted at the selected text.

That's it! I hope you have found this tips page useful and informative.

Build Google Search String(A Microsoft Word Help & Tip page by Gregory K. Maxey)

Build Google Search String
(A Microsoft Word Help & Tip page by Gregory K. Maxey)