"Invalid Data Format" Referencing File that Contains Procedure

• Microsoft Visual Basic Programming System, Applications Edition, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

In a Visual Basic module, when you use the Browse dialog box to reference a file created in another application that contains a Visual Basic procedure, you receive the following error message:

   Invalid data format

CAUSE

This is by design. You cannot, for example, reference a Microsoft Excel workbook file that contains a Visual Basic module, from a Visual Basic module in a Microsoft Project project file.

WORKAROUND

To run a procedure from a Visual Basic module in one application (App1) that is contained in a file created by another application (App2), you can use the methods and properties of the object library exposed by the application that was used to create the Visual Basic procedure (App2).

For example, to run a macro from a Visual Basic module in Microsoft Excel that is contained in a Microsoft Project project file, do the following:

1. In a new module in Microsoft Excel, choose References from the Tools menu.

2. From the Available References list, select the Microsoft Project 4.0 Object Library check box, and choose OK.

3. In the new module, enter the following:

      Sub Run_Proj_Macro()
         ' Dimension variable Proj as object type
         Dim Proj As Object
         ' Set Proj equal to Microsoft Project application object
         Set Proj = MSProject.Application
         ' Open project file that contains macro
         ' Note this command is not necessary to run a global macro
         Proj.FileOpen "C:\WINPROJ\PROJECT1.MPP"
         ' Run macro
         ' Replace MACRONAME with the name of the macro you want to run
         ' PROJECT1 and Module1 are not necessary but distinguish
         ' Between multiple macros with the same name
         Proj.Macro "[PROJECT1]Module1!MACRONAME"
         ' Quit Microsoft Project
         Proj.Quit
      End Sub
   
   

MORE INFORMATION

In a Visual Basic module in Microsoft Excel, you can use the Browse dialog box to reference another workbook file (*.XLS) or an add-in file, (*.XLA) that contains a Visual Basic procedure.

In a Visual Basic module in Microsoft Project, you can use the Browse dialog box to reference another project file (*.MPP) that contains a Visual Basic procedure.

You can reference a toolbar file, (*.TLB) or an object library file (*.OLB) from a Visual Basic module in either Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project.

Keywords          : kbcode kberrmsg kbprg
Version           : 1.00
Platform          : WINDOWS