Q107771: PC Forms: Err Msg: Illegal Function Call

Article: Q107771
Product(s): Microsoft Mail For PC Networks
Version(s): WINDOWS:1.0,3.0,3.0b,3.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 13-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer, version 1.0, used with:
   - Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 3.0, 3.0b, 3.2 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you choose the Select E-Form command from the Mail menu of versions 3.0,
3.0b, or 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for Windows, you may receive the following error
message:

  Illegal Function Call

You may also receive this error message when you select the Route command in
Microsoft Word or Excel.

CAUSE
=====

This error sometimes indicates that a universal naming convention (UNC) path is
defined for the SharedExtensionsDir in the MSMAIL.INI file. The Browser
application code that parses a UNC shared extensions path may fail if the UNC
path does not contain a backslash (\) as the last character in its definition.
For example, the following MSMAIL.INI entry may generate the above error:

  SharedExtensionsDir=\\servername\share

RESOLUTION
==========

To solve the problem, add a "\" to the end of the path definition:

  SharedExtensionsDir=\\servername\share\ 

MORE INFORMATION
================

You can also solve this problem by modifying the Browser application code that
handles UNC paths. To do so:

1. Open the BROWSER.MAK project in Visual Basic (VB\EFORMS\MEFBROWS).

2. From the Project window, select BROWSER.FRM. Click the View Code button.

3. From the Proc: list box, select fConnectShared.

4. Modify the code as follows:

        If Left(szSharedDir, 2) = "\\" Then
           ' Handle UNC path and obtain connection substring length
           ' Ensure that the path doesn't end in a trailing slash
           If (Right(szSharedDir, 1) = "\") Then
               szSharedDir = Left(szSharedDir, Len(szSharedDir) - 1)
           End If
           iShare = InStr(3, szSharedDir, "\")
           iPath = Len(szSharedDir)

           ' see if a connection already exists
           szNetDrive = SzExistingConnection(Left(szSharedDir, iPath))

           If szNetDrive = "" Then
           ' No previous connection exists, find a free drive letter
              szNetDrive = GetFreeDrive()
           ' and connect if a drive is free
              If szNetDrive = "" Then
                 ' No free drive is available to connect
                 FConnectShared = False
                 Exit Function
              ElseIf WNetAddConnection(Left(szSharedDir, iPath), "",
        szNetDrive) <> 0 Then
                 ' Connection failed
                 FConnectShared = False
                 Exit Function
              End If
           End If
           szSharedDir = szNetDrive & Right(szSharedDir,
        Len(szSharedDir) - iPath)
        End If

NOTE: Code that wraps to a new line here should be entered on the same line in
Visual Basic. Also, this is not the most streamlined code for this procedure, it
requires the fewest changes from the original.

1. Choose Make .EXE File from the File menu and replace the existing
  MEFBROWS.EXE in the WINDOWS subdirectory.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.00b 3.20

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbZNotKeyword2 kbMailSearch kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0,3.0,3.0b,3.2

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