WinWord: No Error Message for Invalid OLE Field

• Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word for Windows version 1.x and 2.x, no errormessage is displayed when an object linking and embedding (OLE) field code is invalid.

Word 6.0 will beep when an invalid EMBED field is used, but will not display an error message.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c. This problem was corrected in Word version 7.0 for Windows 95.

WORKAROUND

To find an invalid OLE field code, display field codes in your document (from the View menu, choose Field Codes). If an OLE field code is invalid, Word for Windows will display the following error message in place of the OLE object:

   Error! Not a valid embedded object.

MORE INFORMATION

If you use an invalid dynamic data exchange (DDE) link, all versios of Word for Windows will generate the message "Remote Data Not Accessible." This error appears after you try to update the field by pressing the F9 key. Updating an invalid OLE field does not produce a similar message.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Start Microsoft Excel version 3.0 or later, open a spreadsheet, and copy a small selection of the spreadsheet to the Clipboard.

2. Start Word for Windows. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Special. In the Paste Special dialog box, select Excel Worksheet Object from the Data Type box. Choose the OK button.

3. From the View menu, choose Field Codes (unless a check mark already appears beside the command). The field code for the object you just inserted should look similar to the following:

         {EMBED ExcelWorksheet \s  \* mergeformat}
   

4. Remove "ExcelWorksheet" from the OLE field code.

5. Press F9 to update the field.