WD97: GoBack Method Switches to Another Document

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the GoBack Method in a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro, or when you press SHIFT+F5, Word may switch to another open document.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Visual Basic for Applications GoBack Method and the SHIFT+F5 keystroke operate at the Word session level rather than at the Word document level. The Visual Basic for Applications GoBack Method switches among the last three locations in the currently open documents in which text or formatting has changed.

If only one document is open, the GoBack Method switches among the last three editing positions in the current document.

When you run a macro that uses the GoBack Method and you have more than one document open in Word, the insertion point may go to an unexpected location. For example, if you use the GoBack Method in an AutoOpen macro, the insertion point may go to another document instead of going to the last editing position within the document you are opening.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem and return to the previous editing location within a document, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Set a Permanent Bookmark

When you run the macro, the insertion point will go to this bookmark location.

The following macro creates a bookmark called "mark" at the insertion point.

NOTE: If the document that contains the bookmark is not open, you will recieve an error.

   Sub SetBookMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      Selection.Bookmarks.Add Name:="YourBookmarkName"
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

   Sub GoToMark()
      On Error Resum Next
      Selection.GoTo What:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="mark"
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Method 2: Set a Named Range

The named range exists only while the macro is running. You can return to the named location from within any document while the document that contains the named range is open.

NOTE: If the document that contains the named range is not open, you will receive an error message.

The following macro defines a range called "MyRange" at the insertion point:

   Sub SetRangeMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      Set MyRange = Selection.Range
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

   Sub GoToRangeMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      MyRange.Select
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

MORE INFORMATION

The following is a sample AutoOpen macro that uses the GoBack method:

   Sub AutoOpen()
      Application.GoBack
   End Sub

   ARTICLE-ID: Q101453
   TITLE     : GoBack Command Switches to Another Document

   ARTICLE-ID: Q173707
   TITLE     : OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications