Q168417: WD97: Application.Help wdHelp Generates Run-Time Error

Article: Q168417
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode kberrmsg kbProgramming 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 run a Visual Basic for Applications macro that attempts to display Word
Help using the command

     Application.Help wdHelp

you may receive the following error message:

  Run time error '4605'. This command is not available.

CAUSE
=====

The error message occurs because Word must be the active program when the
Application.Help wdHelp command is run.

For example, you may receive the error message if you run the following Visual
Basic for Applications macro from Microsoft Excel, because Microsoft Excel is
the active program.

     Sub DisplayWordHelp()
        Dim oMSWord As Object
        Set oMSWord = GetObject(Class:="Word.Application")
        oMSWord.Help wdHelp
     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

To work around this problem, your code must first open Word as demonstrated in
the following macro:

     Sub DisplayWordHelp()
        Dim oMSWord As Object
        On Error Resume Next
        ' If Word is already running, use the existing instance.
        Set oMSWord = GetObject(Class:="Word.Application")
        If Err <> 0 Then
           ' If Word is NOT already running, create a new instance.
           Set oMSWord = CreateObject(Class:="Word.Application")
        End If
        If oMSWord.Visible = False Then ' Make Word visible.
           oMSWord.Visible = True
        End If
        oMSWord.Activate   ' <--- Activate Word application.
        oMSWord.Help wdHelp
     End Sub

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft 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:

  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 vbe vba

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

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