XL: "Compile Error" Running Macro That Changes Margins in Print Preview

ID: Q177108

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above, if you run a recorded Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro, you may receive the following error message:

Compile error: Argument not optional
In the Visual Basic Editor, the highlighted line of code appears similar to one of the following six lines of code: 

   .LeftMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .RightMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .TopMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .BottomMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .HeaderMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .FooterMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()


CAUSE

This problem will occur if, while you are recording a Visual Basic macro, you change the margins in the worksheet by performing the following steps:

  1. On the File menu, click Print Preview.

    -or-

    On the Standard toolbar, click the Print Preview button.


  2. At the top of the print preview window, click Margins.


  3. Drag one or more of the margins (top, left, bottom, or right) to a new position.


  4. Click Close.


Specifically, any margin that you do not change while in print preview is recorded without a value, as in the following example: 

.LeftMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
In order for this line of code to work correctly, there must be a value inside the parentheses. Because no value is present, you receive a compile error when you try to run the macro.


WORKAROUND

If this problem occurs, delete any lines of code in the macro that contain "Application.InchesToPoints()" without a value inside the parentheses. Once you do this, the macro should run correctly.

You can also prevent this problem from occurring by using the Margins tab in the Page Setup dialog box to change margins in a worksheet when you are recording a macro. To do this, click Page Setup on the File menu, and click the Margins tab.


STATUS

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


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/
If you use the Page Setup dialog box to change margins in a worksheet while recording a macro, code similar to the following is recorded: 

   .LeftMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.75)
   .RightMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.75)
   .TopMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(1)
   .BottomMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(1)
   .HeaderMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.5)
   .FooterMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.5)
Note that each set of parentheses contains a value.

If you use the Margins button in print preview to change margins, only margins that you change contain a value in the parentheses: 

   .LeftMargin = Application.InchesToPoints(0.5)
   .RightMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .TopMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .BottomMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .HeaderMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
   .FooterMargin = Application.InchesToPoints()
If you try to run this code, you will receive a compile error.


REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: XL97 XL98 


Keywords          : kbmacro kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA xlprint 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98; WINDOWS:97
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: June 11, 1999