WD98: How to Break Out of an Infinite Macro Loop

Last reviewed: March 3, 1998
Article ID: Q181792
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

To break out of an executing Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro or procedure, press COMMAND+BREAK.

MORE INFORMATION

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

In versions of Word earlier than Word 97 for Windows and Word 98 Macintosh Edition, the WordBasic macro language allowed you to break out of macro execution using the ESC key. Beginning with Word 97 for Windows and Word 98 Macintosh Edition, 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 occurs 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
      MsgBox ("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 its 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 : kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample OffVBA macword98
Version : MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbinfo


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: March 3, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.