XL5: "Cannot Find Macro..." Using Run Method with Add-in Macro

ID: Q112219

5.00 WINDOWS kbtool kbbuglist kbfixlist

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

In a Visual Basic module in Microsoft Excel, if you use the Run method of the Application object to run a macro located in an add-in, you may receive the following error message

   Run-time error '1004':

   Cannot find macro '<ADDIN.XLA>!<Addin_Macro>'

where <ADDIN.XLA> is the name of the add-in that contains the macro, and <Addin_Macro> is the name of the macro that you want to run.

CAUSE

This error occurs when the add-in that contains the procedure you used with the Run method is not currently open. Even if the add-in is fast loaded by the following line in the EXCEL5.INI file

   OPEN=/f C:\EXCEL\ADDIN.XLA

where ADDIN.XLA is the add-in file.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 5.0c.

WORKAROUND

To use the Run method to run a macro that is contained in an add-in without receiving the error message above, do any of the following:

In the procedure that contains the Run method, use the Open method of the Workbooks object to open the add-in before the Run method as in the following example:
```
      Workbooks.Open "c:\EXCEL\ADDIN.XLA"
      Run("ADDIN.XLA!Macro_Name")
```
-or-
Do the following to manually establish a reference to the add-in from the procedure that is calling the add-in macro:
1. Activate the module that contains the procedure that is running
```
      the add-in macro.
```
2. From the Tools menu, choose References.
3. If the add-in that contains the macro you want to run is not
```
      listed under Available References, choose Browse.
```
4. From the File Name list, select the add-in you want to reference
```
      and choose OK. Choose OK again.
```

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MORE INFORMATION

When you fast load an add-in, for example by using the /f switch in the EXCEL5.INI file as explained above, any menus and toolbars contained in the add-in are available, but the add-in file itself is not actually loaded, and any macros contained in the add-in are not loaded. When you demand load an add-in, either by opening the add-in file, or with the following line in the EXCEL5.INI file

   OPEN C:\EXCEL5\ADDIN.XLA

everything in the add-in is available, including any macros in the add-in. Therefore, when you demand load and add-in, you do not receive the above error message when you use the Run method to run a macro located in the add-in.

For more information about using the /F switch to load an add-in, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   fast and load and add-in

KBCategory: kbtool kbbuglist kbfixlist KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 addins addin

Keywords          : kbbuglist kbfixlist
Version           : 5.00
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: September 14, 1996