Microsoft KB Archive/140627

= Can't Use xlConstant Names in Variables in VB Code =

Article ID: 140627

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q140627





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, string variables that contain Microsoft Excel constant names cannot be used to set properties in Visual Basic code. For example, if you want to show the Open dialog box, the following code will not work: Dim var As String var = "xlDialogOpen" Application.Dialogs(var).show This type of code, where the Microsoft Excel constant is represented by a variable, produces the following run-time error:

Dialogs Method of Application Class Failed

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Object variable not set



CAUSE
This problem occurs because Microsoft Excel constant names are not actually handled as strings, but rather as the values that they represent.



WORKAROUND
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers 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 requirements. To set the Microsoft Excel constant values to variables in Visual Basic, an integer variable must be set to the value that the constant name represents, as in the following example: Dim var As Integer var = xlDialogOpen ' Note the absence of quotation marks. Application.Dialogs(var).Show

