Macro for changing transparency

[#1]

Hi everybody,

I am currently working with multiple hidden buttons laying over a pivot table. For maintainability reasons, I would like to change the transparency of all buttons with one macro. I tried to make a macro, but could not find the method in the API guide.

Can you guys help me out?

The macro I wrote so far:

sub FixObjects
for s = 0 to ActiveDocument.NoOfSheets - 1
    set vSheet= ActiveDocument.GetSheet(s)
    Objects = vSheet.GetSheetObjects
    For i = lBound(Objects) To uBound(Objects)
        set vObject = Objects(i)
        set vObjectProp = vObject.GetProperties
        vOK = 0
        'button object...
        if vOK=0 AND vObject.GetObjectType = 5 then
           vObjectProp.Frame.AllowMoveSize = false
           vOK = 1
        end if
        'chart object...
        if vOK=0 AND ((vObject.GetObjectType >=10 AND vObject.GetObjectType <=16) OR (vObject.GetObjectType >=20 AND vObject.GetObjectType <=22)) then
           vObjectProp.GraphLayout.Frame.AllowMoveSize = false
           vOK = 1
        end if
        'any other object...
'        if vOK=0 then
'           vObjectProp.Layout.Frame.AllowMoveSize = false
'           vOK = 1
'        end if
'        if vOK=0 then
'            msgbox(vObject.GetObjectType)
'        end if
        vObject.SetProperties vObjectProp
    Next
next
end sub

 sub ChangeTransparency
for s = 0 to ActiveDocument.NoOfSheets - 1
    set vSheet= ActiveDocument.GetSheet(s)
     Objects = vSheet.GetSheetObjects
     For i = lBound(Objects) To uBound(Objects)
          set vObject = Objects(i)
          set vObjectProp = vObject.GetProperties
          vOK = 0
          'button object...
          if vOK=0 AND vObject.GetObjectType = 5 then
                    
                   ' The code for setting the transparency
                   vOK = 1
          end if
         vObject.SetProperties vObjectProp
     Next
next
end sub

[m_woolf]

I haven't used this so this is just a suggestion. Try looking for Alpha or BkgAlpha in the API Guide.

[danielrozental]

A simpler way would be to use argb($(variabletransparency), R, G, B) function as background color.

Then you can use an action (even simpler than a macro) to change the transparency factor variable.

[#4]

@mwoolf: The class 'button' does not seem to contain the member 'layout', which is required to use BkgAlpha or Alpha.

@Daniel: Is it possible to use an expression for the background of a button? I cannot find it at the moment.

Thanks for the quick responses so far!

[m_woolf · Accepted solution]

The IButtonProperties class should work.

For Daniel's reply: The button backgroung color can be a calcualted color. That's where you would use the expression.

[danielrozental]

You can enter an expression there

[#7]

Thank you guys, I haven't used this api guide before so I had difficulty finding it..

[danielrozental]

You should really try avoiding Macro's when possible as they have several negative effects.

Look at the attached document.