Sub PatternedTextHighlight()
' Paul Beverley - Version 09.12.24
' Highlights all text in the document in a background pattern colour

myColour = wdYellow

removePattern = True
For Each pa In ActiveDocument.Paragraphs
  If pa.Range.Shading.BackgroundPatternColor <> 0 Then
    pa.Range.Select
    Selection.Collapse wdCollapseStart
    For Each ch In pa.Range.Characters
      If ch.Shading.BackgroundPatternColor > 0 Then
        ch.HighlightColorIndex = myColour
        If removePattern = True Then _
             ch.Shading.BackgroundPatternColor = wdColorAutomatic
        i = i + 1
        If i Mod 50 = 0 Then
          ch.Select
          DoEvents
        End If
      End If
    Next ch
  End If
Next pa
Selection.HomeKey Unit:=wdStory
Beep
End Sub