WD2000: Word Still Runs After Automation Session

ID: Q212675

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you control Word from another application using Automation, as in the following example,


Sub WordTask()
   Dim appWd As Object
   Set appWd = CreateObject("Word.Application")
   Set appWd = Nothing
End Sub

Word remains loaded in memory, even though the code uses the Set statement to set the instance of Word to Nothing.

NOTE: IF you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to bring up the Windows Task List, you see that Winword is still running.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. To quit Word when initiating an instance using Automation, you must use the Visual Basic for Applications Quit method, as described in the "Work Around" section of this article.

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/overview/overview.asp

The proper method to use when ending a Word Automation session is to use the Quit method. For example:


Sub WordTask()
   Dim appWd As Object
   Set appWd = CreateObject("Word.Application")
   ' Quit the Word session.
   appWd.Quit
   ' Set the Word OLE Object to nothing to free
   ' the appWd object memory.
   Set appWd = Nothing
End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Quit method, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type Quit 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, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

Q226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: vb vba vbe


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

Last Reviewed: August 3, 1999