WD2000: Error Message: "Run-time error '4248'; 'This command is not available because no document is open.'"

• Microsoft Word 2000

SYMPTOMS

If you attempt to use Visual Basic for Applications to change the properties of a document, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Run-time error '4248':
This command is not available because no document is open.

-or-

Run-time error '4605':
Bad File Name

-or-

Run-time error '5941':
The requested member of the collection does not exist.

CAUSE

One of these error messages may appear when no documents are currently open or the document you are referencing is not open.

Word can only change the properties of an open (or visible) document.

NOTE: These error messages may also appear if you have opened the document with the Visible property set to False. For additional information about treating hidden documents in the document collection, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q220504 WD2000: Documents/Windows Collection Fails to Include Hidden Documents

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 Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

Sub ChangeDocProperties()
   On Error GoTo ErrHandler
   ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties("Title") = "My Title"
   Exit Sub
ErrHandler:
   If Err <> 0 Then
      ' Display an error message.
      MsgBox Err.Description
      'Clear the error.
      Err.Clear
      Resume Next
   End If
End Sub 

1. Trap the error, in case there are no documents open.



2. Within the error trap, create a new document.



3. Resume execution at the line that caused the error.

Sub ChangeDocProperties()
   On Error GoTo ErrHandler
   ActiveDocument.BuiltInDocumentProperties("Title") = "My Title"
   Exit Sub
ErrHandler:
   If Err <> 0 Then
      'Add a document.
      Documents.Add
      'Clear the error.
      Err.Clear
      'Execute the code that caused the error.
      Resume
   End If
End Sub 

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about using the sample code in this article, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q212536 OFF2000: 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:

Q226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: vb vba vbe

Keywords          : kbcode kbprg kbdta kbmacroexample kbwordvba wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: July 1, 1999