WD98: Compile Error Passing Function Call

ID: Q182102

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to run a macro converted from WordBasic to Visual Basic for Applications that contains code using the Open statement in combination with a function call to retrieve the value for the file name argument, you receive the following error:

   Compile error: Syntax error

See the "More Information" section of this article for an example of a WordBasic macro that converts incorrectly.

CAUSE

When the WordBasic macro is converted, the function call is converted to a procedure call.

WORKAROUND

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/

Edit the converted macro and change the procedure call back to a function call. For example, change this line of code:

   Open WordBasic.Call "Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$ For Append As 2

to this:

   Open WordBasic.Call("Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$) For Random As 2

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

WordBasic Example Prior To Conversion

   Sub MAIN()
      Dim Arg1$
      Arg1$ = "A"
      ' This line contains a Function Call.
      Open Call("Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$) For Append As 2
      Close 2
   End Sub

WordBasic Macro Example After Conversion

WARNING: After conversion, this code produces the error message described in the "Symptoms" section.

   Public Sub MAIN()
      Dim Arg1$
      Arg1$ = "A"

      ' This line has been converted to a procedure Call and will cause
      ' the error mentioned earlier in this article.
      Open WordBasic.Call "Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$ For Append As 2

      Close 2
   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          : kberrmsg kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA kbmacroexample macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999