Run-Time Error Accessing BuiltinDocumentProperties

ID: Q135099

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Excel 97
Microsoft Project for Windows 95, version 4.1

SYMPTOMS

When you run a Visual Basic macro that uses the Value property to return the value of a built-in document property, you may receive an error message.

With Microsoft Excel version 7.0 or Microsoft Project version 4.1, you may receive the following error message.

   Run-time error '440':
   OLE Automation error

With Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive the following error message.

   Run-time error '-2147467259 (80004005)':
   Method 'Value' of object 'DocumentProperty' failed

CAUSE

This problem may occur when you use the BuiltinDocumentProperties property to return the value of a property if the property does not contain a value.

If a document property has not been set (does not contain a value), you may receive a run-time error when you use the Value property in a Visual Basic macro to return the value of the property. For example, you receive a run-time error when you run either of the following commands in a Microsoft Excel workbook if the workbook has not been printed:

   MsgBox ActiveWorkbook.BuiltinDocumentProperties.Item(10).Value

   MsgBox _
     ActiveWorkbook.BuiltinDocumentProperties.Item("Last Print Date").Value

Microsoft Office Visual Basic Help states that if the application doesn't define a value for one of the built-in document properties, reading the Value property for that document property causes an error.

The following is the list of built-in properties accessible through the BuiltinDocumentProperties property:

   Title
   Subject
   Author
   Keywords
   Comments
   Template
   Last Author
   Revision Number
   Application Name
   Last Print Date
   Creation Date
   Last Save Time
   Total Editing Time
   Number of Pages
   Number of Words
   Number of Characters
   Security
   Category
   Format
   Manager
   Company
   Number of Bytes
   Number of Lines
   Number of Paragraphs
   Number of Slides
   Number of Notes
   Number of Hidden Slides
   Number of Multimedia Clips
   Hyperlink Base                      ** Microsoft Office 97 only
   Number of characters (with spaces)  ** Microsoft Office 97 only

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the following example macro in Microsoft Excel to detect if the value for a built-in document property has been set and trap the run-time error. This macro loops through every built-in property and displays a dialog box with the name of the property on the first line, and the value of the property on the second line. If the property has not been set, the message "Not Set" is displayed instead of the value for that property.

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures 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. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft Support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

NOTE: Before you run this macro, you must establish a reference in your module to the Microsoft Office 95 Object Library or the Microsoft Office 8.0 Object Library using the References dialog box. The Microsoft Office 95 Object Library file (MSO5ENU.DLL) is located in the Windows\System folder. The Microsoft Office 8.0 Object Library file (MSO97.DLL) is located in the folder \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office.

   Sub DisplayProperties()

      Dim v as String

      ' Initiate error handler
      On Error Resume Next

      ' iterate through each built-in property
      For Each x In ActiveWorkbook.BuiltinDocumentProperties
         ' attempt to return value of property
         v = x.Value
         ' if property not set, error 440 will occur
         If Err = 440 Then
            ' reset error handler
            Err = 0
            ' prepare "Not Set" message
            v = "Not Set"
         End If

         ' display property name, and value or "Not Set" if applicable
         MsgBox x.Name & Chr(10) & v
      Next x

End Sub

Note that to use this example macro in Microsoft Project, change the following statement in the macro:

   For Each x In ActiveWorkbook.BuiltinDocumentProperties

to the following:

   For Each x In ActiveProject.BuiltinDocumentProperties

REFERENCES

For more information about using the BuiltinDocumentProperties property in Microsoft Excel, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

   BuiltinDocumentProperties

double-click the selected text and then double-click "BuiltinDocumentProperties Property" to go to the "BuiltinDocumentProperties Property" topic.

Additional query words: 7.0a xl97 built-in document properties

Keywords          :  
Version           : 7.00 7.00a 97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: May 19, 1999