XL: VB for Apps Procedure to Open or Activate a Workbook

ID: Q135390

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

When you activate a workbook with a Visual Basic for Applications procedure, the workbook must first be open. If the workbook is closed, you will receive one of the following error messages:

   Run-time error '1004':
   Workbook method of Application class failed

   - or -

   Run-time error '9':
   Subscript out of range

The Visual Basic procedure in the "More Information" section of this article will activate Book2.xls if it is already open, or it will open and activate Book2.xls if it is closed.

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/

Insert a module sheet and enter the following code:

   Sub ActivateSheet()
          On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
          Workbooks("Book2.xls").Activate
   'The following line will halt the macro before the error handler
   'is reached.
          Exit Sub
   ErrorHandler:
          Workbooks.Open filename:="Book2.xls"
   End Sub

For information about how to do this in Microsoft Excel versions 4.0 and earlier (or for information about how do this with the Microsoft Excel version 4.0 macro language), please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q74694
   TITLE     : Macro to Open or Activate a Sheet in Microsoft Excel

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00 8.00 97

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999