Knowledge Base

WD97: Run-Time Error '5841' If Style Doesn't Exist

Article ID: 158847

Article Last Modified on 8/10/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q158847

SYMPTOMS

When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro that modifies or deletes a specific style, the following error message may appear:

Run-time error '5841': The requested member of the collection does not exist.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you attempt to modify or delete a style that does not exist.

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

The following Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications example code tests for the presence of a specific style. If the style exists, the macro checks to see whether the specified style is a built-in style. If it is not a built-in style, the macro tests whether the style is currently in use. If the style is in use, the style is deleted.

Sub DoesStyleExist()
   Dim styStyle As Style
   Dim sMsg As String
   Dim sStyleName As String
   ' The style to delete.
   ' Note: Character case is utilized with styles.
   ' For example, "mystyle" is different from "MYSTYLE".
   sStyleName = "mystyle"
   ' Initial message.
   sMsg = " style does not exist."
   For Each styStyle In ActiveDocument.Styles
      ' Does the style exist?
      If styStyle.NameLocal = sStyleName Then
         ' Cannot delete a built in style.
         If styStyle.BuiltIn = False Then
            ' Is the style being used?
            If styStyle.InUse Then
               ' Delete the Style
               styStyle.Delete
               sMsg = " style has been deleted."
               Exit For
            End If
         Else
            sMsg = " style is a built-in style."
            Exit For
         End If
      End If
   Next
   ' Display a message indicating the resulting action.
   MsgBox sStyleName & sMsg
End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

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

173707 FF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: wordcon vb vba vbe 5841 doesn t

Keywords: kbdtacode kberrmsg kbnofix kbprb KB158847

Microsoft KB Archive/158847

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