WD97: "This file could not be found" Error with Open Method

 Last reviewed: March 3, 1998
Article ID: Q162389
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Visual Basic for Applications Open method to open a file, you may receive the following error message: 

   Run-time error '5174: This file could not be found.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

  • The file name extension is not included as part of the FileName argument (for example: Documents.Open FileName:="mydocument")

    -and-

  • The file name extension of the file you want to open is something other than ".doc."

This error will occur regardless of whether the default file format has been specified, as in the following example: 

   Documents.Open FileName:="mydocument", Format:=wdOpenFormatRTF

   -or-

   Application.Options.DefaultOpenFormat = wdOpenFormatRTF
   Documents.Open FileName:="mydocument"
NOTE: This error will also occur if the document you are attempting to open does not exist.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples 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 article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

     
   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp
To work around this issue, specify the file name extension as part of the FileName argument. The following example opens a Rich Text Format (.rtf) document that exists in the default document directory: 

   Documents.Open FileName:="mydocument.rtf"

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word for Windows 97. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

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

   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

Additional query words: vb vba vbe
Keywords : kbwordvba word8 word97 OffVBA kbprg
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug
Solution Type : kbpending

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Last reviewed: March 3, 1998
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