Microsoft KB Archive/185232

= WD97: Error Message Using WordMail: "This method or property is not available" =

Article ID: 185232

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q185232





SYMPTOMS
When you are using WordMail and you try to automate Word from another program, you may encounter problems processing some Word commands. For example, you may receive Automation errors such as "This method or property is not available" or other errors.

This article describes how to check whether WordMail is running when you are using Automation to automate Word from another program.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when all of the following conditions are true:
 * You use the GetObject function to automate Word from another program.

-and-


 * You are running WordMail as your e-mail editor.

-and-


 * There is a current e-mail message open for editing.

The GetObject function allows you to retrieve the current or running instance of Word. However, because WordMail uses a hidden or non-visible instance of Word, GetObject may return the WordMail instance. There is no way to control which instance of Word is returned.

For example, the following Visual Basic for Applications code sample may cause the error

Run-time error '4605': "The Open method or property is not available"

if the current selection is within a WordMail message instead of the Word main document window:

Dim wdObj As Word.Application Set wdObj = GetObject(, "word.application") wdObj.Documents.Open "c:\my documents\doc1.doc"



WORKAROUND
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

To determine if the focus is in a WordMail message, use the Selection.Information property together with the FocusInMailHeader property to determine whether a WordMail instance or a Word instance has the focus.

FocusInMailHeader Property
The FocusInMailHeader property returns True if the insertion point is in a WordMail header field (the To field, for example).

Selection.Information Property
Use the Selection.Information property to return information about the specified or current selection.

The syntax of the Selection.Information property is  Selection.Information(Type)

where Type is a constant specifying the information to return.

Use wdInWordMail as the Type constant to return a value that indicates the WordMail location of the selection, as shown in the following table:   Value       WordMail Location -  0(zero)     The selection or range is not in a WordMail message.

1          The selection or range is in a WordMail send note.

2          The selection or range is in a WordMail read note.

Example
The following sample code demonstrates how to use these properties to determine whether WordMail or Word has the current focus: Sub CheckForWordMail Dim wdObj As Word.Application Dim boolWordMail As Boolean ' Initialize values. boolWordMail = False ' If Word is running or a WordMail e-mail ' message is open, use GetObject. If Word ' or WordMail is not running, an error will occur. On Error Resume Next Set wdObj = GetObject(, "word.application") If Err.Number = 0 Then ' If no error has occurred, call isWordMail Function ' to see if Word instance is Word or WordMail. boolWordMail = isWordMail(wdObj) Else ' If an error has occurred, create ' new instance of Word. Set wdObj = CreateObject("word.application") wdObj.Documents.Add End If  If boolWordMail Then ' , ' for example: MsgBox "Focus in WordMail." Else ' , ' for example: MsgBox "Focus in Word." End If  ' Free the object variable in memory. Set wdObj = Nothing End Sub

Function isWordMail(oWord As Word.Application) As Boolean ' Is focus in a WordMail Header (To, CC or Subject line)? If oWord.Application.FocusInMailHeader Then isWordMail = True Exit Function End If  ' If not in WordMail Header, is focus in   ' the body of a WordMail message? If oWord.Selection.Information(wdInWordMail) Then isWordMail = True End If End Function

For more information about the Information property, in the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "Information property", click Search, and then click to view "Information Property."

For more information about the FocusInMailHeader property, in the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "FocusInMailHeader property", click Search, and then click to view "FocusInMailHeader Property."

For more information about the GetObject function, in the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "GetObject", click Search, and then click to view "GetObject function."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

