Testing for existance of Microsoft Assistant

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Ed - 31 Jan 2006 10:29 GMT

I am trying to use the Microsoft Assistant balloons to provide tips for how
to use a macro I have written. I can turn 'On' the Microsoft Assistant, and
make it 'visible' if it is present, but some users haven't installed MA in
the first place. How do I test initially to see if the Assistant is even on
the computer so as to avoid error conditions and to branch of in another
direction if not installed?

Thanks.

Ed

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Jezebel - 31 Jan 2006 11:10 GMT

Use an inputbox asking for the user's IQ. If the answer is over 70, assume
they ditched the Assistant long ago.

>I am trying to use the Microsoft Assistant balloons to provide tips for how
>to use a macro I have written. I can turn 'On' the Microsoft Assistant, and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Ed

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Greg Maxey - 31 Jan 2006 11:32 GMT

If Application.Assistant.On Then
'Do something
Else
'Do something else
End IF

Signature

Greg Maxey/Word MVP
See:
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/word_tips.htm
For some helpful tips using Word.

> Use an inputbox asking for the user's IQ. If the answer is over 70,
> assume they ditched the Assistant long ago.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Ed

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Ed - 01 Feb 2006 12:06 GMT

Greg -- That did it. I thought I had tried that before, but I guess not,
because it worked like a charm. Thanks.

Ed

> If Application.Assistant.On Then
> 'Do something
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>>>
>>> Ed

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Ed - 31 Jan 2006 13:29 GMT

Actually, Jezebel, while we like to hate and make fun of the Microsoft
Assistant, it has its place. There is not another feature that crosses all
Word platforms that can provide the kind of information (layout as well as
substance) and the kind of control that this weird and much maligned tool
can provide. It really is a wonderful way to provide hand-holding for the
new user of a program (i.e., an add-in to Word) from setup to expert usage.
I tried message boxes, and have developed some pretty fancy ones for my
program, but when I re-discovered (very late in my design process) the
Microsoft Assistant (which I too had turned off long ago -- it was a 'pride'
thing), I soon realized its inherent and engaging value.

Ed

> Use an inputbox asking for the user's IQ. If the answer is over 70, assume
> they ditched the Assistant long ago.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Ed

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Greg Maxey - 31 Jan 2006 23:32 GMT

You are welcome Ed.

Signature

Greg Maxey/Word MVP
See:
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/word_tips.htm
For some helpful tips using Word.

> Actually, Jezebel, while we like to hate and make fun of the Microsoft
> Assistant, it has its place. There is not another feature that
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>>>
>>> Ed

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