XL: VB for Apps Procedure to Open or Activate a Workbook

Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
Article ID: Q135390
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

When you activate a workbook with a Visual Basic for Applications procedure, the workbook must first be open. If the workbook is closed, you will receive one of the following error messages:

   Run-time error '1004':
   Workbook method of Application class failed

   - or -

   Run-time error '9':
   Subscript out of range

The Visual Basic procedure in the "More Information" section of this article will activate Book2.xls if it is already open, or it will open and activate Book2.xls if it is closed.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

Insert a module sheet and enter the following code:

   Sub ActivateSheet()
          On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
          Workbooks("Book2.xls").Activate
   'The following line will halt the macro before the error handler
   'is reached.
          Exit Sub
   ErrorHandler:
          Workbooks.Open filename:="Book2.xls"
   End Sub

For information about how to do this in Microsoft Excel versions 4.0 and earlier (or for information about how do this with the Microsoft Excel version 4.0 macro language), please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q74694
   TITLE     : Macro to Open or Activate a Sheet in Microsoft Excel


Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00 8.00 97
Keywords : kbcode kberrmsg kbprg
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


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Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
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