Q171129: WD97: Error Message If AutoText String Exceeds 255 Characters

Article: Q171129
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample word8 kbautotext 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 AutoTextEntries property to create AutoText entries, you may
receive the following Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications error message:

  Run-time error '5854': String parameter too long.

CAUSE
=====

By design, this error message occurs when the text string is longer than 255
characters.

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, modify the macro to insert the text string into the
document, select it, add the selection as an AutoText entry, and then remove the
text string. The following sample Visual Basic for Applications macro
demonstrates this procedure:

     Sub AutoTextEntryExample()
        Dim sATName As String
        Dim sATEntry As String
        Dim sATNewEntry As AutoTextEntry

        ' Sample AutoText Entry Name.
        sATName = "ExampleAutoTextEntryName"
        ' Sample AutoText Entry Text of 500 characters.
        sATEntry = String(500, "A")

        If Documents.Count = 0 Then Documents.Add
        If Len(sATEntry) < 256 Then
           ' If the length of the text is less than 256 characters,
           ' add it as a new AutoText Entry.
           Selection.Range.Collapse
           Set sATNewEntry = NormalTemplate.AutoTextEntries.Add _
           (Name:=sATName, Range:=Selection.Range)
           sATNewEntry.Value = sATEntry
        Else
           ' If the length of the text is greater than 255 characters,
           ' insert it into the active document and add it as a new
           ' AutoText Entry.
           With Selection.Range
              .Collapse
              .Text = sATEntry
              .Select
              NormalTemplate.AutoTextEntries.Add _
                 Name:=sATName, Range:=Selection.Range
              .Delete
           End With
        End If
     End Sub

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          : kberrmsg kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample word8 kbautotext word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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