WD97: How to Break Out of an Infinite Macro Loop

Last reviewed: February 24, 1998
Article ID: Q164234
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

To break out of macro execution using Visual Basic for Applications, press CTRL+BREAK.

MORE INFORMATION

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

In versions of Word prior to Word 97, the WordBasic macro language allowed you to break out of macro execution using the ESC key. Beginning with Word 97, Visual Basic for Applications has replaced WordBasic as the Word for Windows macro language.

There can be many causes for an infinite loop. For, example an infinite loop will occur if you create a loop to check the value of a variable that never changes, as in the following example:

   Sub InfiniteLoop()
      Dim n As Integer
      n = 0
      Mgsbox ("WARNING: This macro will cause an infinite loop. Press" & _
      CTRL+BREAK to exit an infinite loop.")
      Do
      ' Because the "Do...Loop" is looking for the value of 'n'
      ' to equal 1, and because there is no code within the loop
      ' to change the value of the variable 'n' from it's initial
      ' value of zero, the "Do...Loop" will continue to loop indefinitely.
      Loop Until n = 1
   End Sub

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 vbe vba
Keywords : kbprg kbusage word8 word97
Version : WINDOWS: 97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


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Last reviewed: February 24, 1998
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