Microsoft KB Archive/168417

= WD97: Application.Help wdHelp Generates Run-Time Error =

Article ID: 168417

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q168417





SYMPTOMS
When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro that attempts to display Word Help using the command Application.Help wdHelp you may receive the following error message:

Run time error '4605'. This command is not available.



CAUSE
The error message occurs because Word must be the active program when the Application.Help wdHelp command is run.

For example, you may receive the error message if you run the following Visual Basic for Applications macro from Microsoft Excel, because Microsoft Excel is the active program. Sub DisplayWordHelp Dim oMSWord As Object Set oMSWord = GetObject(Class:="Word.Application") oMSWord.Help wdHelp End Sub



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 work around this problem, your code must first open Word as demonstrated in the following macro: Sub DisplayWordHelp Dim oMSWord As Object On Error Resume Next ' If Word is already running, use the existing instance. Set oMSWord = GetObject(Class:="Word.Application") If Err <> 0 Then ' If Word is NOT already running, create a new instance. Set oMSWord = CreateObject(Class:="Word.Application") End If     If oMSWord.Visible = False Then ' Make Word visible. oMSWord.Visible = True End If     oMSWord.Activate   ' <--- Activate Word application. oMSWord.Help wdHelp End Sub



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

