WD: Macro Halts When You Press ESC Key in Dynamic Dialog Box

ID: Q109274

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

If you press ESC during a user (or dynamic) dialog box definition in a WordBasic macro, Word halts the macro and the following error message occurs:

   WordBASIC: The macro was interrupted.

RESOLUTION

To prevent a macro from halting when you press ESC in a user dialog box, you must trap the ESC key using the DisableInput statement.

The following sample macro demonstrates the correct use of the DisableInput statement.

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/supportnet/refguide/ 

   Sub MAIN
      Begin Dialog UserDialog 109, 81, "Test", .DialogFunction
         OKButton 10, 6, 88, 21
         CancelButton 10, 30, 88, 21
         PushButton 10, 54, 88, 21, "Text"
      End Dialog
      Dim dlg As UserDialog
      x = Dialog(dlg)
   End Sub

   Function DialogFunction(identifier$, action, wvalue)
      DisableInput 1
      Select Case action
         Case 1
         Case 2
            If identifier$ = "Cancel" Then
               DialogFunction = 0
               For xyz = 1 To 50
                  Print "Cancel pressed"
               Next xyz
            Else
               DialogFunction = 1
            End If
         Case Else
      End Select
   End Function

STATUS

This functionality is by design of Microsoft Word.

MORE INFORMATION

This use of the DisableInput statement conflicts with the information in online Help for the DisableInput command and on page 340 of the "Microsoft Word Developer's Kit." Both resources state that "DisableInput does not affect the use of ESC for canceling a dialog box." This statement is not true for dynamic (user) dialog boxes, for which DisableInput does prevent the ESC key from interrupting the macro.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word Developer's Kit," version 6.0, page 340

Additional query words: docerr trapping

Keywords          : kbmacro wordnt kbmacroexample winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95 
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 9, 1999