WD98: How to Break Out of an Infinite Macro Loop

ID: Q181792

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

To break out of an executing Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro or procedure, press command+.(period).

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/

There can be many causes for an infinite loop. For, example an infinite loop occurs if you create a loop to check the value of a variable that never changes, as in the following example:

   Sub InfiniteLoop()

      Dim n As Integer
      Dim strMsg As String
      n = 0
      strMsg = "WARNING: This macro will cause an infinite loop. " & vbCr
      strMsg = strMsg & vbCr & "Press OK to continue and then press "
      strMsg = strMsg & "command+.(period) to exit this infinite "
      strMsg = strMsg & "loop or press Cancel to Stop this macro now."
      x = MsgBox(strMsg, vbExclamation + vbOKCancel, "Warning!")
      If x = vbCancel Then n = 1
      Do

         ' Because the "Do...Loop" is looking for the value of 'n'
         ' to equal 1, and because there is no code within the loop
         ' to change the value of the variable 'n' from its initial
         ' value of zero, the "Do...Loop" will continue to loop
         ' indefinitely.

      Loop Until n = 1

   End Sub

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

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA kbmacroexample macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999