BUG: Error 451 "Object not a collection" When Using Left()

• Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

If the Left Function is used in a form module, Error 451 "Object not a collection" occurs.

CAUSE

Visual Basic is misinterpreting the Left function as the Left property of the Form.

RESOLUTION

There are two possible workarounds to this problem:

1. (This is the preferred method.) Use the Mid Function with the start parameter equal to 1, similar to the following:

         Private Sub Form_Load()
             On Error Resume Next
             Dim sDrive
             'Use the following line instead of sDrive = Left("c:\windows", 3)
             sDrive = Mid("c:\windows", 1, 3)
             If Err.Number = 0 Then
                MsgBox "The Drive is " & sDrive, vbInformation, "Drive"
             Else
                MsgBox "Error: " & Err.Number & " - " & _
                Err.Description, vbInformation, "Error Message"
             End If
         End Sub
   
   

2. Use the Left Function in a standard module (*.bas)

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a new Windows CE Project in Visual Basic 5.0. Form1 is created by default.

2. Add the following code to the Load Event of Form1:

         Private Sub Form_Load()
            On Error Resume Next
            Dim sDrive
            sDrive = Left("c:\windows", 3)
            If Err.Number = 0 Then
               MsgBox "The Drive is " & sDrive, vbInformation, "Drive"
            Else
               MsgBox "Error: " & Err.Number & " - " & _
               Err.Description, vbInformation, "Error Message"
            End If
         End Sub
   
   

3. Press the F5 key to run the project in the emulator and observe the error.

Keywords          : vb5all vbce
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending