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Q157616: WD97: Error Using Documents.Open to Open Non-Word File

Article: Q157616
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you run the following statement,

  Documents.Open FileName:= "test", Format:= wdOpenFormatRTF

to open the file "test.rtf", the following error message may appear:

  Run-time error '5174': This file could not be found.

Or, if the file "test.doc" exists in the same folder as "test.rtf":

  Run-time error '5121': Word cannot open this document.

CAUSE
=====

If a file extension is not specified when using the FileName argument, Word
tries to open the file assuming a .doc extension, not by what is specified in
the Format argument. The Format argument does not specify the file extension or
type of file to open; instead, it specifies the file converter to use to open
the file. In this example:

  "Format:= wdOpenFormatRTF"

opens the file using the Rich Text Format (RTF) converter.

WORKAROUND
==========

Specify the file name and extension when using the statement:

  Documents.Open FileName:= "test.rtf", Format:= wdOpenFormatRTF

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

The same problem arises when using:

  Application.Options.DefaultOpenFormat = wdOpenFormatRTF
  Documents.Open FileName:= "test"

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Word and Visual Basic for Applications.


Additional query words: macro debug method vba vbe visual basic word97

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97

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