OFF97: Error Using Help Method with Microsoft Word 97

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In Visual Basic for Applications macros, you can use the CreateObject and GetObject methods of OLE Automation to communicate with and control other programs. For example, a macro in Microsoft Excel 97 can start and control an instance of Microsoft Word 97.

If you use OLE Automation to control an instance of Microsoft Word 97, you may receive an error if you use the Help method to display Help in Microsoft Word 97 and then quit the instance of Microsoft Word 97 without first closing the Help window.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers 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 requirements. The following sample macro illustrates the steps necessary for the problem to occur:

   Sub Test()
       Dim WordApp As Object

       'Begin using OLE Automation to communicate with Microsoft Word 97.
       Set WordApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")
       WordApp.Visible = True
       AppActivate WordApp.Name

       'Display Help in Microsoft Word 97. Using this line of code will
       'ultimately cause the problem to occur.
       WordApp.Help helptype:=wdHelp

       'Quit Microsoft Word 97. The crash actually occurs here.
       WordApp.Quit
       Set WordApp = Nothing
   End Sub
				

If you replace the following line

   WordApp.Help helptype:=wdHelp
				

with the following line

   WordApp.Assistant.Help
				

the error does not occur.