Convert RTF (Rich Text Format) code into plain text in Excel

Question

I exporting a database query as Excel and I am getting rows with RTF formatting.

How can I convert these fields into plain text? I've found answers that are pretty old, so I was wondering if anyone knows a way.

Answer 1

The .Net Framework RichTextBox class can perform the conversion. Fortunately, this class has the ComVisibleAttribute set, so it can be used from VBA without much difficulty.

I had to create a .tlb file to Reference. In the

%SYSTEMROOT%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\currentver\

directory, run the command

regasm /codebase system.windows.forms.dll

to create the system.windows.forms.tlb file. I already had this .tlb file on my system, but I had to recreate it using this command to be able to create a .Net System.Windows.Forms RichTextBox object successfully in VBA.

With the new .tlb file created, in VBA link it to your project via Tools->References in the VBA IDE.

I wrote this test code in Access to demonstrate the solution.

Dim rtfSample As String
rtfSample = "{\rtf1\ansi\deflang1033\ftnbj\uc1 {\fonttbl{\f0 \froman \fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1 \fswiss \fcharset0 Segoe UI;}} {\colortbl ;\red255\green255\blue255 ;} {\stylesheet{\fs22\cf0\cb1 Normal;}{\cs1\cf0\cb1 Default Paragraph Font;}} \paperw12240\paperh15840\margl1440\margr1440\margt1440\margb1440\headery720\footery720\deftab720\formshade\aendnotes\aftnnrlc\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot \sectd\pgwsxn12240\pghsxn15840\marglsxn1440\margrsxn1440\margtsxn1440\margbsxn1440\headery720\footery720\sbkpage\pgnstarts1\pgncont\pgndec \plain\plain\f1\fs22\lang1033\f1 hello question stem\plain\f1\fs22\par}"

Dim miracle As System_Windows_Forms.RichTextBox
Set miracle = New System_Windows_Forms.RichTextBox
With miracle
    .RTF = rtfSample 
    RTFExtractPlainText = .TEXT
End With

MsgBox RTFExtractPlainText(rtfSample)

With the result

hello question stem

I'd assume re-creating the .tlb file in the \Framework64\ directory would be needed on 64-bit Windows with 64-bit Office. I am running 64-bit Win10 with 32-bit Office 2013, so I had to have a 32-bit .tlb file.

Answer 2

Another alternative can be using Microsoft Rich Textbox Control (but can't test it on x64 Office)

Sub rtfToText()
    With CreateObject("RICHTEXT.RichtextCtrl") ' or add reference to Microsoft Rich Textbox Control for early binding and With New RichTextLib.RichTextBox
        .SelStart = 0                          ' needs to be selected
        .TextRTF = Join(Application.Transpose(Cells.CurrentRegion.Columns(1)))
        [C1] = .Text                           ' set the destination cell here

        ' or if you want them in separate cells:
        a = Split(.Text, vbNewLine)
        Range("C3").Resize(UBound(a) + 1) = Application.Transpose(a)
    End With
End Sub