WD98: BreakLink Method Deletes Object Reference

ID: Q182013

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you have a Visual Basic for Applications macro that uses the BreakLink method in combination with an object reference, the following error may occur:

   Run-time error '5825': Object has been deleted

CAUSE

The link the object variable referred to no longer exists.

You receive the "Object has been deleted" message if the macro has attempted to access an object that has been deleted. The object may have been deleted deliberately, such as with the Delete method, or it may have been deleted as a side effect of another operation, such as when a frame is added around an inline shape, which deletes the original inline shape and creates a copy of it in the frame.

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/

To verify that an object still exists, use the IsObjectValid method. The following example demonstrates the use of this method.

   Sub testObject()
      Dim sPIC As InlineShape
      Set sPIC = ActiveDocument.InlineShapes.Add("C:\Windows\bubbles.bmp")
      MsgBox IsObjectValid(sPIC)     ' This will display True
      sPIC.Delete
      MsgBox IsObjectValid(sPIC)     ' This will display False
   End Sub

For more information about IsObjectValid, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type "IsObjectValid," click Search, and then click to view "IsObjectValid Property."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

MORE INFORMATION

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q173707
   TITLE     : OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

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: wordcon vb vba vbe

Keywords          : kbdta OffVBA kbmacroexample macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999