WD97: How to Implement a Delay in VB for Applications

ID: Q162150

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

Word does not have a built-in method of delaying execution of a macro, but workarounds can be used to achieve this effect.

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/

You can use one of the following methods to delay execution of a macro using Visual Basic for Applications.

Method 1: Use an Empty For...Next Loop

A disadvantage to this method is that there is no direct way to determine the exact amount of time the program will take to execute the loop. The amount of time will be dependent on the speed of the user's computer. The following code will execute a loop that does nothing but take up some time.

   For iCount = 1 to 1000
   Next iCount

Method 2: Use an API Call to Suspend Word's Execution

Use an API call to suspend Word's execution for a fixed amount of time.

The Kernel32 contains a function that will pause an application's execution for a specified amount of time, specified in milliseconds. To use the function, it must first be declared in the General Declarations section of the module in which it will be used:

   Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" Alias "Sleep" _
   (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)

Use the following syntax to call the Sleep function:

   Sleep (1000)   '1 second delay

Method 3: Use the OnTime Method

Use the OnTime method to set an amount of time to pause.

The OnTime method uses the following syntax:

   expression.OnTime(When, Name, Tolerance)

Because the Name argument requires the name of a macro to run, you must create two macros. The first macro to contain the OnTime Method call and other commands relevant to your macro. The second macro to run when the alloted time has passed. The second macro can be a 'dummy' macro that does nothing.

This example runs the macro named "DummyMacro" 15 seconds from the time the example is run.

   Sub MyMainMacro()
      ' Pause for 15 seconds.
      Application.OnTime When:=Now + TimeValue("00:00:15"), _
         Name:="DummyMacro"
   End Sub

   Public Sub DummyMacro()
      ' This macro does nothing.
   End Sub

For more information about the OnTime Method, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type "OnTime Method," click Search, and then click to view "OnTime Method."

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

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q173707
   TITLE     : OFF97: 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 kbmacroexample word8 kbwordvba word97 
Version           : 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 6, 1999