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

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.

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