XL: Error Creating OLE Automation Object with Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the CreateObject function or the GetObject function in a procedure to create or return a Microsoft Excel OLE Automation object, you may receive one of the following error messages.

In Microsoft Excel 97:

   Run-time error '429':
   ActiveX component can't create object

   Run-time error '499':
   User-defined error

   Run-time error '440':
   OLE Automation error

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if you use an incorrect value for the class argument of the CreateObject or GetObject function. The class argument consists of the name of the application providing the object (appname) followed by a period and the type of class of object to create or return (objecttype).

The application names "Excel.Application" or "Excel.Application.5" may be used for Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0. However, only the application name "Excel.Application" may be used for Microsoft Excel 97.

Because of this, you will receive an error message when you run any of the following commands in a procedure in Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Visual Basic:

   Set myApp = CreateObject("Excel7.Application")

   Set myApp = GetObject(,"Excel7.Application")

   Set myApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application.7")

   Set myApp = GetObject(,"Excel.Application.7")

RESOLUTION

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures 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. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

To avoid receiving an error message when you create or return a Microsoft Excel OLE Automation object, use any of the following commands:

   Set myApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

   Set myApp = GetObject(,"Excel.Application")

   Set myApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application.5")

   Set myApp = GetObject(,"Excel.Application.5")