Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Converting Strings to Numbers.
Using VBA you can easily convert strings to numbers. You can do this with the Val() function. This function returns the value of a string, up to the first nonnumeric character. The following are examples:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
A = Val(MyString)
B = Val("-12345.67")
C = Val("9876")
D = Val(" 4 5 2 1")
The first line converts MyString into a numeric value, placing it in A. The second line results in B being set to –12345.67. The third places the value 9876 into C, and the final line sets D equal to 4521. Notice that spaces are ignored in the conversion; this is why the final line works the way it does.
You should also note that trying to use formatted numbers in a conversion will confuse the Val() function. Thus, Val("1,234") would not return a value of 1234 (as one might hope), but a value of 1. The conversion stops at the first non-numeric character, in this case the comma.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11408) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Converting Strings to Numbers.
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2013-04-03 10:06:13
Sheri
How would I convert "Two (2)" to the number 2? I need to multiple the 2 by another number. This applies to One (1), Two (2), Three (3), and so on through Fourteen (14).
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