WD98: Macro to Test for an Existing Macro Name

ID: Q183147

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to run a Visual Basic for Applications macro from within another macro or routine in Word, you may receive one of the following error messages:

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

   -or-

   Run-time error '4649': Unable to create the specified macro

CAUSE

The macro specified by your code may not exist.

MORE INFORMATION

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 the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. 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/

When you write Visual Basic for Applications code, you may need to test for the existence of a macro before running it.

The following Visual Basic for Applications macro sample traps the errors described earlier. If the specified macro does not exist, the error trap can be used to branch selectively.

NOTE: Using this example, if the macro is found, the macro will run. If you want to test only for the existence of a macro, without running the macro, replace .Run = True with .Run = False.

   Sub DoesMacroExist()
      On Error Resume Next
      ' Use the Macro Dialog to run macro.
      With Dialogs(wdDialogToolsMacro)
         .Name = "xcallmacro"
         ' Attempt to run the macro.
         .Run = True
         .Execute
         ' If macro does not exist, an error will occur.
         If Err = 4633 Or Err = 4649 Then
            MsgBox "Macro not found."
         ElseIf Err = 0 Then
            MsgBox "Macro found."
         Else
            Err.Description
         End If
      End With
   End Sub

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q181058
   TITLE     : OFF98: 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:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

Additional query words: wordcon vb vba vbe
Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA kbmacroexample macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999