WD97: Error: "Can't Exit Design Mode..." After Adding Control

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you add a custom control from the Control Toolbox toolbar to your Normal.dot, you may receive the following error message when you create a new document and attempt to access the control:

   Can't exit design mode because Control '<Control Type>' can not be
   created.

CAUSE

The Visual Basic for Applications code for the control must be compiled before you save the Normal.dot template.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue:

• Open your Normal.dot, access the control, and then save and close the Normal.dot template.

  -or-

• If you have Visual Basic for Applications code that runs when you access the control, run the procedure prior to saving and closing the Normal.dot template.

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.