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Q162937: WD97: Compile Error Passing Function Call

Article: Q162937
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample 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 attempt to run a macro converted from WordBasic to Visual Basic for
Applications that contains code using the Open statement in combination with a
function call to retrieve the value for the file name argument, you receive the
following error:

  Compile error: Syntax error

See the "More Information" section of this article for an example of a WordBasic
macro that converts incorrectly.


CAUSE
=====

When the WordBasic macro is converted, the function call is converted to a
procedure call.

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

Edit the converted macro and change the procedure call back to a function call.
For example, change this line of code:

     Open WordBasic.Call "Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$ For Append As 2

to this:

     Open WordBasic.Call("Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$) For Random As 2

STATUS
======

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

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

WordBasic Example Prior to Conversion
-------------------------------------

     Sub MAIN()
        Dim Arg1$
        Arg1$ = "A"
        ' This line contains a Function Call.
        Open Call("Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$) For Append As 2
        Close 2
     End Sub

WordBasic Macro Example After Conversion
----------------------------------------

WARNING: After conversion, this code produces the error message described in the
"Symptoms" section.

      Public Sub MAIN()
        Dim Arg1$
        Arg1$ = "A"

        ' This line has been converted to a procedure Call and will cause
        ' the error mentioned earlier in this article.
        Open WordBasic.Call "Library.OutputFile$", Arg1$ For Append As 2

        Close 2
     End Sub

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          : kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample word8 kbwordvba word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

=============================================================================

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