PPT7: OLE Automation Error Using Open Method

Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

If you try to use a Microsoft Excel or Word macro, or another Visual Basic for Applications procedure to open a PowerPoint 95 presentation, you may receive the following error message:

   Runtime Error: '-2147188160 (80048240)':
   Presentation.Open invalid request.  The PowerPoint Frame Window does
   not exist.

CAUSE

This error will occur if you use the Application.Presentations.Open method before showing the PowerPoint application window at least once. A simple example of code that will produce this error follows:

   Private Sub Form_Load()
      Dim ppt As Object
      Dim pres As Object
      Set ppt = CreateObject("PowerPoint.application.7")
      Set pres = ppt.presentations.open("c:\windows\desktop\test.ppt")
   End Sub

RESOLUTION

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic 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. This Visual Basic procedure is provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that it can be used in all situations. Microsoft does not support modifications of this procedure to suit customer requirements for a particular purpose.

To work around this problem, use the following steps to modify the macro:

1. Locate the "Set ppt" and the "Set pres" lines.

2. Position the insertion point after the "Set ppt" line, but before the "Set pres" line.

3. Add the following line in the macro:

       ppt.AppWindow.Visible = True
   

   The edited macro should resemble the following:

         Private Sub Form_Load()
            Dim ppt As Object
            Dim pres As Object
   
           Set ppt = CreateObject("PowerPoint.application.7")
           ppt.AppWindow.Visible = True
           Set pres = ppt.presentations.open("c:\windows\desktop\test.ppt")
         End Sub
   
   

   ppt.AppWindow.Windowstate = ppWindowMinimized

   Private Sub Form_Load()
      Dim ppt As Object
      Dim pres As Object

      Set ppt = CreateObject("PowerPoint.application.7")
      ppt.AppWindow.Visible = True
      ppt.AppWindow.Windowstate = ppWindowMinimized
      Set pres = ppt.presentations.open("c:\windows\desktop\test.ppt")
   End Sub

STATUS

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