Watermark only appears in first section

[G. Harland]

I have a Word document with nine sections. None of the sections are linked
because there is specific text in each header.

From an Access database, I have code that opens the Word document, replaces
a bunch of bookmarks, updates some fields and the table of contents, saves
the document, and exits.

Now, I have to add a watermark. After spending way too much time coming up
with a solution, it turns out that the code only writes the watermark in the
first section. So I am looking for any help, advice, tips, code samples, or
anything else you can think of that will help me out (and take pity on me, as
I am a PowerBuilder developer by trade, acting as a VB/VBA developer as a
favor to my boss).

Thanks,
Glenn Harland

Here's the code:
wmtext = IIf(IsNull(watermark_text.Value), "", watermark_text.Value)
For ctr = 1 To oTemp.Sections.Count
For idx = 1 To 3
With
oTemp.Sections(ctr).Headers(idx).Shapes.AddTextEffect(powerpluswatermarkobject1, wmtext, "Times New Roman", 1, False, False, 0, 0)
.TextEffect.NormalizedHeight = False
.Line.Visible = False
.Fill.Visible = True
.Fill.Solid
.Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(192, 192, 192)
.Fill.Transparency = 0.5
.Rotation = 315
.LockAspectRatio = True
.Height = oWord.InchesToPoints(2.27)
.Width = oWord.InchesToPoints(7.95)
.WrapFormat.AllowOverlap = True
.WrapFormat.Side = wdWrapNone
.WrapFormat.Type = 3
.RelativeHorizontalPosition = wdRelativeHorizontalPositionMargin
.RelativeVerticalPosition = wdRelativeVerticalPositionMargin
.Left = wdShapeCenter
.Top = wdShapeCenter
End With
Next
Next

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Glenn

My sympathies: I've played with this problem on and off since Word 2000
days. I find that sometimes the watermark just is not inserted; and other
times Word inserts 2 watermarks in one section and none in another. The
first page header in Section 2 seems to be a particular place that Word
doesn't like.

My current suggestions are more voodoo than programming, but they sometimes
work:

- move the cursor to the end of the document before you begin

- repaginate before you begin (oDoc.Repaginate)

- contrary to the general advice about avoiding moving the selection, select
the range of the header or footer before you insert the shape (eg
oTemp.Sections(ctr).Headers(idx).range.select). There is no earthly reason
why that is necessary. Except that if it isn't there, Word sometimes puts
all the watermarks in the Odd header for Section 1, regardless of what you
tell it. You'll need to .Select something more pleasant for the user at the
end of your routine.

- use msoTextEffect2 rather than powerpluswatermarkobject1

- get a reference to the shape when you insert it (eg set shpWatermark =
oTemp.Sections(ctr).Headers(idx).Shapes.AddTextEffect....)

- then use that shpWatermark to set as many of the properties as you can
(eg position, colour etc) *after* the shape is actually inserted

If none of that works, then try updating all fields and repaginating after
you insert each watermark. This slows down a big document considerably, but
that might be preferable to having watermarks in the wrong places.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word