WD97: Error Creating Pre-Existing Custom Document Property

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use Visual Basic for Applications to create a new custom document property you may receive the following error:

   Run-time error '-2147467259(80004005):
   Automation error

CAUSE

This error is returned if the custom document property you are creating already exists.

WORKAROUND

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

This first macro calls the SetProp subroutine. It is a separate macro so that you can insert the single command line into a larger macro.

   Sub SetCustomPropertyName()
      ' **************************************************
      ' This SubRoutine passes the Custom Property Name,
      ' Value and Property Type to the SetProp subroutine.
      ' **************************************************
      ' Set the custom property "MyCustomPropertyName" equal
      ' to "MyCustomValue". The msoPropertyTypeString constant
      ' specifies the type of property, and must be included.
      SetProp "MyCustomPropertyName", "MyCustomValue", _
      msoPropertyTypeString
   End Sub

   Sub SetProp(CDPName As String, CDPValue As Variant, Optional _
   CDPType As Long)
      ' ***********************************************
      ' The SetProp routine checks to see if the Custom
      ' Document Property pre-exists. If it exits, then
      ' it adds the new value. If it does not exist,
      ' it creates the new property and adds the new value.
      ' ***********************************************
      ' Make sure the optional argument CDPType is set.
      ' If it is missing, make it a string value.
      Dim oCDP, oProp, msg
      If IsMissing(CDPType) Then
         CDPType = msoPropertyTypeString
      End If
      Set oCDP = ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties
      ' Compare each custom document property to the
      ' property you want to create to see if it exists.
      For Each oProp In oCDP
         ' If the Custom Property exists...
         If oProp.Name = CDPName Then
            With oProp
               ' ...the custom property Type you are setting
               ' must match the pre-existing custom property.
               If .Type <> CDPType Then
                  msg = "The custom property types do not match."
                  msg = msg + " Custom property not set."
                  MsgBox msg
                  ' End the routine.
                  Exit Sub
               End If
               .LinkToContent = False
               ' Set the new value.
               .Value = CDPValue
            End With
            ' A match was found, so exit the routine.
            Exit Sub
         End If
      Next oProp
      ' No match was found. Create a new property and value.
      oCDP.Add Name:=CDPName, Value:=CDPValue, Type:=CDPType, _
      LinkToContent:=False
   End Sub

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