WD97: How to Implement a Delay in VB for Applications

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

Word does not have a built-in method of delaying execution of a macro, but workarounds can be used to achieve this effect.

MORE INFORMATION

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Method 1: Use an Empty For...Next Loop

A disadvantage to this method is that there is no direct way to determine the exact amount of time the program will take to execute the loop. The amount of time will be dependent on the speed of the user's computer. The following code will execute a loop that does nothing but take up some time.

   For iCount = 1 to 1000
   Next iCount

Method 2: Use an API Call to Suspend Word's Execution

Use an API call to suspend Word's execution for a fixed amount of time.

The Kernel32 contains a function that will pause an application's execution for a specified amount of time, specified in milliseconds. To use the function, it must first be declared in the General Declarations section of the module in which it will be used:

   Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" Alias "Sleep" _
   (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)

   Sleep (1000)   '1 second delay

Method 3: Use the OnTime Method

Use the OnTime method to set an amount of time to pause.

The OnTime method uses the following syntax:

   expression.OnTime(When, Name, Tolerance)

This example runs the macro named "DummyMacro" 15 seconds from the time the example is run.

   Sub MyMainMacro()
      ' Pause for 15 seconds.
      Application.OnTime When:=Now + TimeValue("00:00:15"), _
         Name:="DummyMacro"
   End Sub

   Public Sub DummyMacro()
      ' This macro does nothing.
   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

   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