XL98: Overflow Error Occurs When Using Err Object

 Last reviewed: March 20, 1998
Article ID: Q182296
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, you may receive the following error message: 

   Run-time error '6':
   Overflow

CAUSE

This problem may occur when all of the following conditions are true:

  • You set the value of a variable equal to the value of the Err object in the macro; the following is a sample statement: 

          ErrNum = Err

-and-

  • You dimension the variable in question as type Integer.

-and-
  • You use the Raise method of the Err object (Err.Raise) to generate a run-time error that has a value greater than 32767 or less than -32768.

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/supportnet/refguide/
To work around this problem, dimension variables that will contain Err values as type Long. For example, instead of using 

   Dim ErrNum As Integer
use: 

   Dim ErrNum As Long
This code ensures that you do not receive the overflow error message.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, the Err object contains information about run-time errors that occur when you run a Visual Basic macro. You can determine the value of the last run-time error that occurs by reading the value of the Err object. For example, the following line of code sets the variable (ErrNum) equal to the value of the last run-time error that occurs: 

   ErrNum = Err
You can use the Raise method of the Err object to generate a run-time error with any value. For example, to generate a run-time error whose value is 50000, use the following code: 

   Err.Raise 50000
If you use this code and set the value of a variable equal to the value of the Err object, as in the following code: 

   ErrNum = Err
you receive an overflow error if the variable (ErrNum) is dimensioned as type Integer.

NOTE: All run-time errors generated by Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition should have a value between -32768 and 32767. Therefore, you receive an overflow error only after you use Err.Raise to change the value of the Err object to a non-Integer value.

Additional query words: XL98 vbe
Keywords : kberrmsg kbdta kbdtacode xlvbahowto
Version : MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbprb

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 20, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.