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Q162389: WD97: "This file could not be found" Error with Open Method

Article: Q162389
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): word8 kbwordvba word97
Last Modified: 13-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

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

When you use the Visual Basic for Applications Open method to open a file, you
may receive the following error message:

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

CAUSE
=====

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

- The file name extension is not included as part of the FileName argument (for
  example: Documents.Open FileName:="mydocument")

-and-

- The file name extension of the file you want to open is something other than
  ".doc."

This error will occur regardless of whether the default file format has been
specified, as in the following example:

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

  -or-

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

NOTE: This error will also occur if the document you are attempting to open does
not exist.

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 a Microsoft Certified
Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more
information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following
Microsoft Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/partner/referral/

For more information about the support options that are available and about how
to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

To work around this issue, specify the file name extension as part of the
FileName argument. The following example opens a Rich Text Format (.rtf)
document that exists in the default document directory:

  Documents.Open FileName:="mydocument.rtf"

STATUS
======

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


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

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

  Q173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles


REFERENCES
==========

For more 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: wordcon vb vba vbe

======================================================================
Keywords          : word8 kbwordvba word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

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