WD98: "String Too Long" Using Over 255 Characters

ID: Q181110

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to assign the value of a variable containing more than 255 characters to a FormField object, you will receive the following error message:

   Run-time error '4609': "String too long"

CAUSE

The following Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro (Sub procedure) is an example of code that can cause the error:

   Sub StringTooLongError()

      Dim sMyVar As String
      sMyVar = String(256, "x")
      ActiveDocument.FormFields(1).Result = sMyVar

   End Sub

WORKAROUND

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/

The following example Visual Basic for Applications code sets text greater than 255 characters in length to the form field named Text1:

   Sub WorkAround255Limit()
      ' Set Text1 form field to a unique string.
      ActiveDocument.FormFields("text1").Result = "****"
      If ActiveDocument.ProtectionType <> wdNoProtection Then
          ActiveDocument.Unprotect
      End If
      Selection.GoTo What:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="Text1"
      Selection.Collapse
      Selection.MoveRight wdCharacter, 1
      Selection.TypeText (String(256, "W"))
      Selection.GoTo what:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="Text1"
      ' Remove unique characters from Text1 form field.
      With Selection.Find
         .Execute findtext:="*", replacewith:="", replace:=wdReplaceAll
      End With
      ActiveDocument.Protect Password:="", NoReset:=True, Type:= _
         wdAllowOnlyFormFields
   End Sub

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q127743
   TITLE     : GetFormResult$() Function Does Not Return Complete Text
               String

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

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbnofix

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999