XL: "Can't Find Project or Library" When You Run a Macro

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, when you attempt to run a Visual Basic for Applications macro to insert a Visual Basic module into a workbook or to record a new macro, you may receive the following error message:

   Can't find project or library

   MISSING: Microsoft Office 8.0 Object Library

   MISSING: OLE Automation

   Unable to record.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when all of the following conditions are true:

• The workbook contains a reference either to the Microsoft Office 8.0 Object Library or to the OLE Automation library.

  NOTE: If you create the workbook in Microsoft Excel 97 or if you use the References dialog box in Microsoft Excel 97 to create the reference, the workbook may contain such a reference.

      -and-
  

• In Microsoft Excel 97, you saved the workbook in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format.

      -and-
  

• You opened the workbook in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 and attempted to run a macro, to insert a Visual Basic module into the workbook, or to record a new macro.

      -and-
  

• No Microsoft Office 97 program is installed on the computer on which you are running Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Disable Missing References in the References Dialog Box

If the References dialog box appears when you attempt to run a macro, to insert a macro, or to record a new macro, use the following steps:

1. In the list of Available References, clear any check boxes to the left of references that are labeled "MISSING."

2. After you clear all the missing references, click OK.

3. Run the macro, insert or record a new macro.

NOTE: Save the workbook before you close it. Otherwise, the change to the References dialog box may not be saved. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q114627
   TITLE     : XL: No Prompt to Save Changes After Tools Reference Change

Method 2: Remove References in Microsoft Excel 97

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/supportnet/refguide/

   Sub RemoveLibraryReferences()

       On Error Resume Next
       Dim xObject As Object

       Set xObject = ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Item("Office")
       ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Remove xObject

       Set xObject = ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Item("stdole")
       ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Remove xObject

   End Sub

NOTE: You cannot run this macro in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0. The macro works ONLY in Microsoft Excel 97.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

When you use a workbook that is saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, this problem may occur when the Microsoft Office 8.0 Object Library (Mso97.dll) or OLE Automation (Stdole2.tlb) is unavailable. If you install any of the Microsoft Office 97 programs on your computer, the Mso97.dll and Stdole2.tlb files should be available.

Note that this problem occurs only if the workbook contains a reference to the Microsoft Office 8.0 Object Library or to OLE Automation. In Microsoft Excel 97, you can view references by clicking References on the Tools menu in the Visual Basic Editor. In Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, you can view references by clicking References on the Tools menu when a Visual Basic module is the active sheet.

REFERENCES

For additional 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