Programmatically call the StyleSelector and place selected NorthArrow on PageLayout

Summary

Note:
This article pertains to ArcGIS versions 8.x. Later versions of ArcGIS may contain different functionality, as well as different names and locations for menus, commands and geoprocessing tools.

This VBA code sample illustrates how to call the StyleSelector programmatically to select a North Arrow. The code then places the selected North Arrow on the PageLayout.

Note: 
Support for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for ArcMap and ArcCatalog ended with the ArcGIS 10.2.2 release, and Esri has not included VBA compatibility setups since version 10.5. See: ArcGIS Desktop and VBA Moving Forward

Procedure

1. Start ArcMap.
2. Create a new UIButtonControl: How To: Create a new UIButtonControl​

Note:
For more information on creating a UIControl, see the ArcGIS Desktop Help topic: 'Creating custom commands with VBA and UI Controls'

3. Right-click the UIButtonControl and select View Source.
4. Copy below code into the UIButtonControl's click event.

'''This code will:
'''1:Call up the StyleSelector.
'''2:Allow User to select a NorthArrow
'''3:Place selected arrow in PageLayout (1,1). (NorthArrow will draw in Red...)

Dim pMxDoc As IMxDocument
Set pMxDoc = ThisDocument

Dim pAV As IActiveView

Dim pGC As IGraphicsContainer
Set pGC = pMxDoc.ActiveView

Dim pStyleSelector As IStyleSelector
Set pStyleSelector = New NorthArrowSelector

pStyleSelector.DoModal 0

'''You must use 0 below. I THINK this is because once a NorthArrow is selected
'''it is in the first position (0).
Dim pUnk As IUnknown
Set pUnk = pStyleSelector.GetStyle(0)

Dim pArrow As INorthArrow
Set pArrow = pUnk

'''QI to above class's main interface....
'''A MapSurround is a term referring to "things" that can sit around a
'''map. (ScaleBars, Legends, NorthArrows, etc)
Dim pMapSurround As IMapSurround
Set pMapSurround = pArrow

'''Color the NorthArrow red...(just to prove we have access to its properties....
Dim pClr As IRgbColor
Set pClr = New RgbColor
pClr.Red = 255
pArrow.Color = pClr

'''In order to be displayed on a pagelayout, all MapSurrounds must sit in
'''a frame (MapsurrounfFrame).
Dim pMapSurroundFrame As IMapSurroundFrame

'''*********THIS IS NECCESARY********************
'''If this block of code is excluded, the NorthArrow will have re-sizing issues.
'''The CreateSurroundFrame ties the MapFrame to the MapsurroundFrame which will
'''allow for a correct repositioning when moving/re-sizing.
Dim pMapFrame As IMapFrame
Set pMapFrame = pGC.FindFrame(pMxDoc.Maps.Item(0))

Dim pUID As UID
Set pUID = New UID
pUID.Value = "esricore.MarkerNorthArrow"

Set pMapSurroundFrame = pMapFrame.CreateSurroundFrame(pUID, pArrow)
'''***********************************************

Set pAV = pMxDoc.ActiveView

'''QI and set an IElement interface. This interface give you acces to a
'''Geometry property. This geometry property (in this case) takes rectangle/envelope
'''that represents a location on the PageLayout where the NorthArrow will be stored...
Dim pElem As IElement
Set pElem = pMapSurroundFrame

'''The function named 'TheGeometry' returns an envelope.
pElem.Geometry = TheGeometry

'''Finally add the element to the graphicsContainer
pGC.AddElement pElem, 0
pMxDoc.ActiveView.Refresh

5. Copy the below code into the same module as the code for the UIButtonControl.

Code:
Public Function TheGeometry() As IGeometry
'''This function creates a piece of geometry that is used by the PageLayout as a
'''position to display the North Arrow.

Dim pEnv As IEnvelope
Set pEnv = New Envelope

Dim pt1 As IPoint
Set pt1 = New Point
pt1.x = 1
pt1.Y = 1

Dim pt2 As IPoint
Set pt2 = New Point
pt2.x = 1.5
pt2.Y = 1.5

pEnv.LowerLeft = pt1
pEnv.UpperRight = pt2
Set TheGeometry = pEnv

End Function

6. From the ArcMap Menu, select Layout View because the code expects the PageLayout to be the ActiveView.
7. Click the button to run the code.