WD97: Cannot Trap Undefined Sub or Function Error

ID: Q164010

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Visual Basic for Applications, you cannot trap the following undefined

Sub procedure or Function error:

   Compile Error: Sub or Function not defined

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/

An undefined Sub or Function is an attempt to call a Sub procedure or Function that does not exist.

The following sample Visual Basic for Applications macro makes a call to the non-existent function, "MyFunction". The error listed earlier in this article will occur before the macro begins to run or compile.

   Sub MyMacro()
      On Error Resume Next
      x = MyFunction()
   End Sub

Error trapping does not work with undefined subroutines, functions, or commands. To avoid these type errors, the macro must be designed so that it does not call an undefined subroutine, function, or command. Specifically, when you create your macro make sure that the following conditions are satisfied:

The Sub procedure or Function exists.
The Sub procedure or Function is not misspelled.
The Sub procedure or Function is not declared as Private.
If the Sub procedure or Function exists in a custom template or document project other than the project in which the calling routine exists, make sure that a reference has been added to the custom template project or document.
NOTE: You cannot add a reference to a project within a document whose underlying template is the same template as the calling procedure.

Adding a Project Reference

   To add a project reference, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click References to display the References dialog

   box.

2. The References dialog box shows all object libraries and

   projects registered with the operating system. Scroll through
   the list for the project you want to reference. If the
   template or document project isn't listed, you can use the
   Browse button to search *.dot or *.doc files. References
   whose check boxes are selected are used by your project; those
   that aren't selected are not used, but can be added.

3. Select the Project reference in the Available References box

   in the References dialog box and click OK.

   NOTE: If a project has not been saved, it appears as "UNSAVED:
   <Project Name>" and you will be unable to make a reference to it.

For more information about adding references, click the Office Assistant, while in the Visual Basic Editor, type "Adding References," click Search, and then click to view "Check or Add an Object Library Reference."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

REFERENCES

For more information about calling Sub and Function procedures, from the Visual Basic for Applications Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "Call Statement," click Search, and then click to view "Call Statement."

For information about this subject for earlier versions of Word, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q82113
   TITLE     : WD: Cannot Trap WordBasic Error 124 with On Error Command

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          : kberrmsg kbprg kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample word8 kbwordvba word97 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: April 3, 1999