How to set Word Application.Selection focused

Question

I am building a Word VSTO Add-in. There I have a side drawer with some buttons on it. Now when I click on a button it inserts a predefined text in a document selection position. When it inserts the text I would like to bring back focus to the document itself.

How to do that?

My best try so far:

  Word.Selection currentSelection = Application.Selection;
  currentSelection.Text = ((Button)sender).Tag.ToString();
  Application.ActiveWindow.SetFocus();
  Application.ActiveWindow.Activate();

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 09 '22 at 21:28

1

Try Application.ActiveDocument.Activate.

answered Sep 09 '22 at 21:28

Dmitry Streblechenko

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score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 10 '22 at 11:36

It makes sense to call the Activate method prior calling the SetFocus one:

Word.Selection currentSelection = Application.Selection;
currentSelection.Text = ((Button)sender).Tag.ToString();
Application.ActiveWindow.Activate();
Application.ActiveWindow.SetFocus();

Also you may find Windows API functions helpful for such scenarios. For example, the SetForegroundWindow function which brings the thread that created the specified window into the foreground and activates the window. Keyboard input is directed to the window, and various visual cues are changed for the user. You may find the Win32: Bring a window to top thread helpful.

I did both (and Dmitry's answer too) and it worked! – Dejan Dozet Sep 10 '22 at 17:09 — Dejan Dozet, Sep 10 '22 at 17:09

How to set Word Application.Selection focused

2 Answers2