Q163192: WD97: "String Too Long" Using Over 255 Characters

Article: Q163192
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta kbdtacode kbwordvba
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 assign the value of a variable containing more than 255
characters to a FormField object, you will receive the following error:

  Run-time error '4609': "String too long"

CAUSE
=====

The following example macro causes the error described in the Symptoms section
of this article:

     Sub StringTooLongError()
        Dim sMyVar As String
        sMyVar = String(256, "x")
        ActiveDocument.FormFields(1).Result = sMyVar
     End Sub

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

The following example Visual Basic for Applications code sets text greater than
255 characters in length to the form field named Text1:

     Sub WorkAround255Limit()
        ' Set Text1 form field to a unique string.
        ActiveDocument.FormFields("text1").Result = "****"
        If ActiveDocument.ProtectionType <> wdNoProtection Then
            ActiveDocument.Unprotect
        End If
        Selection.GoTo What:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="Text1"
        Selection.Collapse
        Selection.MoveRight wdCharacter, 1
        Selection.TypeText (String(256, "W"))
        Selection.GoTo what:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="Text1"
        ' Remove unique characters from Text1 form field.
        With Selection.Find
           .Execute findtext:="*", replacewith:="", replace:=wdReplaceAll
        End With
        ActiveDocument.Protect Password:="", NoReset:=True, Type:= _
           wdAllowOnlyFormFields
     End Sub

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the
beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new
information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

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

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

  Q127743 GetFormResult$() Function Does Not Return Complete Text String

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 kbcode kbmacro vba

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode kbwordvba 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug

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