Article ID: 181537
Article Last Modified on 8/21/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh
This article was previously published under Q181537
SYMPTOMS
If you have an AutoExec macro designed to work with an add-in program, Word will return an error that is based on the task the AutoExec macro is attempting to complete. For example, attempting to call a macro stored in an add-in template results in the following error:
CAUSE
By design, Visual Basic for Applications is asynchronous in operation. This means that while one command is processing, dependent upon the command called, your code will begin processing the next command.
For example, if your code processes a command to print a document, and the next command displays a message box, the message box appears before the document completes printing. In Word, an AutoExec macro is run before any add-ins are loaded; therefore, the call to the macro stored in your add-in fails and an error occurs.
MORE INFORMATION
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The following sample macro commands provide a means for working around this limitation by using the OnTime method to delay processing of a macro stored in a template add-in.
The When argument of the OnTime method specifies the time at which a macro is to be run. It can be a string that specifies a time (for example, "4:30 pm" or "16:30"), or it can be a serial number returned by a function, such as TimeValue or TimeSerial (for example, TimeValue("2:30 pm") or TimeSerial(14, 30, 00)). You can also include the date (for example, "6/30 4:15 pm" or TimeValue("6/30 4:15 pm")).
Use the sum of the return values of the Now function and either the TimeValue or TimeSerial function to set a timer to run a macro a specified amount of time after the statement executes. For example, use Now+TimeValue("00:05:30") to run a macro 5 minutes and 30 seconds after the statement executes.
The Tolerance argument of the OnTime method specifies the maximum time (in seconds) that can elapse before a macro that wasn't run at the time specified by When is canceled. Macros may not always run at the specified time. For example, if a sort operation is under way or a dialog box is being displayed, the macro will be delayed until Word has completed the task. If this argument is 0 (zero) or omitted, the macro is run regardless of how much time has elapsed since the time specified by When.
NOTE: The time to wait will vary between faster and slower computers and may need to be adjusted appropriately.
Application.OnTime When:=Now() + TimeValue("00:00:3"), _
Name:="MyProject.MyModule.MyMacro", Tolerance:=2
REFERENCES
For more information about the OnTime method, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type OnTime Method, click Search, and then click to view "OnTime Method."
NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
179216 OFF98: How to Use the Microsoft Office Installer Program
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles
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
Keywords: kbdtacode kbmacroexample kbnofix kbprb KB181537
