WD2000: Problems with AutoExec Macro That Calls Macro in Add-in

ID: Q201939

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

If you have an AutoExec macro designed to work with an add-in program, Word returns 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 message:

Run-time error '4633': Unable to run the specified macro.


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 macro begins 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.


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/
For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

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

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 is run. For example, use Now+TimeValue("00:05:30") to run a macro 5 minutes and 30 seconds after the statement is run.

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 is 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 varies 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


MORE INFORMATION

For more information about OnTime method, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type "OnTime Method" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.


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

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, see the following Knowledge Base article:
Q226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: vb 


Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA kbmacroexample kbwordvba wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: June 15, 1999