Q180455: BUG: Error 451 "Object not a collection" When Using Left()

Article: Q180455
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 3.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbToolkit kbVBp kbVBp500bug kbVBp600bug kbOSWinCE100 kbGrpDSVB
Last Modified: 15-NOV-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft eMbedded Visual Basic, version 3.0 
- Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 6.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If the Left Function is used in a form module, the following error occurs:

  Error 451 "Object not a collection"

CAUSE
=====

Visual Basic is misinterpreting the Left function as the Left property of the
Form.

RESOLUTION
==========

There are two possible workarounds to this problem:

1. (This is the preferred method.) Use the Mid Function with the start parameter
  equal to 1, similar to the following:

        Private Sub Form_Load()
            On Error Resume Next
            Dim sDrive
            'Use the following line instead of sDrive = Left("c:\windows", 3)
            sDrive = Mid("c:\windows", 1, 3)
            If Err.Number = 0 Then
               MsgBox "The Drive is " & sDrive, vbInformation, "Drive"
            Else
               MsgBox "Error: " & Err.Number & " - " & _
               Err.Description, vbInformation, "Error Message"
            End If
        End Sub

2. Use the Left Function in a standard module (*.bas).

STATUS
======

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

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

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

1. Create a new Windows CE project in either eMbedded Visual Basic or Visual
  Basic 6.0. Form1 is created by default.

2. Add the following code to the Load Event of Form1:

        Private Sub Form_Load()
           On Error Resume Next
           Dim sDrive
           sDrive = Left("c:\windows", 3)
           If Err.Number = 0 Then
              MsgBox "The Drive is " & sDrive, vbInformation, "Drive"
           Else
              MsgBox "Error: " & Err.Number & " - " & _
              Err.Description, vbInformation, "Error Message"
           End If
        End Sub

3. Press F5 to run the project in the emulator and observe the error.

(c) Microsoft Corporation 1999, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Mike Dixon, Microsoft Corporation


Additional query words: wince vbce vbce6 evb

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Keywords          : kbToolkit kbVBp kbVBp500bug kbVBp600bug kbOSWinCE100 kbGrpDSVB 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword2 kbVBeMbSearch kbWinCETKVBSearch kbWinCESearch kbVBeMb300
Version           : :3.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

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