XL97: Error Using RemoveItem Method

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you use the RemoveItem method to remove an entry from either a ListBox or ComboBox control, you may receive the following error message:

   Run-time error '-2147024809 (80070057)':
   Invalid argument.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when both of the following conditions are true:

• You use the RemoveItem method for either a ListBox or ComboBox control.

  -and-

• The ListBox or ComboBox control is data bound (the RowSource property is set to a range on a worksheet).

RESOLUTION

In order to remove an item from either a ListBox or ComboBox control when the control is bound to a worksheet range, reset the range reference for the RowSource property of the control.

The following example creates a UserForm with a ListBox control and a CommandButton (with associated macro code) for removing an item from the ListBox.

NOTE: The macro does not permanently delete any items from your source data; it changes the reference for a defined name. Because the RowSource property is set to this defined name, the items that are displayed in the list vary according to the range you assign to the defined name.

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.

1. Close and Save any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.

2. Define the range A1:A5 in Sheet1 as "myrange" (without the quotation marks).

3. Type the following data in Sheet1:

          A1:   a
          A2:   b
          A3:   c
          A4:   d
          A5:   e
   
   

4. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).

5. On the Insert menu, click UserForm.

6. Click the ListBox control in the Toolbox and add a ListBox to the UserForm.

7. If the Properties window is not visible, press F4.

8. Change the RowSource property of the ListBox control to "Sheet1!myrange" (without the quotation marks).

9. Add a CommandButton control to the UserForm.

10. Double-click the CommandButton to display the Visual Basic module associated with the UserForm.

11. For the Click event of the CommandButton control, type the following macro code:

    Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()

            Sheet1.Range("myrange").Resize _
                (Sheet1.Range("myrange").Rows.Count - 1, 1).Name _
                = "myrange"
    
            ListBox1.RowSource = "Sheet1!myrange"
    
        End Sub
    
    

12. Press F5 to run the UserForm.

1. Click the CommandButton.

1. Close the UserForm.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the RowSource Property, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q161072
   TITLE     : XL97: Cannot Use Mouse to Populate RowSource or
               ListFillRange

REFERENCES

For more information about Adding Items to a ListBox Control, click the Office Assistant, type "add item to listbox", click Search, and then click to view "Ways to put data in a ListBox or ComboBox".

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Excel Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component