WD97: Application.Help wdHelp Generates Run-Time Error

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro that attempts to display Word Help using the command

   Application.Help wdHelp

   Run time error '4605'. This command is not available.

CAUSE

The error message occurs because Word must be the active program when the Application.Help wdHelp command is run.

For example, you may receive the error message if you run the following Visual Basic for Applications macro from Microsoft Excel, because Microsoft Excel is the active program.

   Sub DisplayWordHelp()
      Dim oMSWord As Object
      Set oMSWord = GetObject(Class:="Word.Application")
      oMSWord.Help wdHelp
   End Sub

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

   Sub DisplayWordHelp()
      Dim oMSWord As Object
      On Error Resume Next
      ' If Word is already running, use the existing instance.
      Set oMSWord = GetObject(Class:="Word.Application")
      If Err <> 0 Then
         ' If Word is NOT already running, create a new instance.
         Set oMSWord = CreateObject(Class:="Word.Application")
      End If
      If oMSWord.Visible = False Then ' Make Word visible.
         oMSWord.Visible = True
      End If
      oMSWord.Activate   ' <--- Activate Word application.
      oMSWord.Help wdHelp
   End Sub

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

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