WD97: GoBack Method Switches to Another Document

ID: Q160021

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the GoBack Method in a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro, or when you press SHIFT+F5, Word may switch to another open document.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Visual Basic for Applications GoBack Method and the SHIFT+F5 keystroke operate at the Word session level rather than at the Word document level. The Visual Basic for Applications GoBack Method switches among the last three locations in the currently open documents in which text or formatting has changed.

If only one document is open, the GoBack Method switches among the last three editing positions in the current document.

When you run a macro that uses the GoBack Method and you have more than one document open in Word, the insertion point may go to an unexpected location. For example, if you use the GoBack Method in an AutoOpen macro, the insertion point may go to another document instead of going to the last editing position within the document you are opening.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem and return to the previous editing location within a document, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Set a Permanent Bookmark

When you run the macro, the insertion point will go to this bookmark location.

The following macro creates a bookmark called "mark" at the insertion point.

NOTE: If the document that contains the bookmark is not open, you will receive an error.


   Sub SetBookMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      Selection.Bookmarks.Add Name:="YourBookmarkName"
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

The following macro returns the insertion point to the bookmark you set.


   Sub GoToMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      Selection.GoTo What:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="mark"
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

For more information about adding bookmarks, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type Add Bookmark, click Search, and then click to view "Add Method(Bookmarks Collection)."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Method 2: Set a Named Range

The named range exists only while the macro is running. You can return to the named location from within any document while the document that contains the named range is open.

NOTE: If the document that contains the named range is not open, you will receive an error message.

The following macro defines a range called "MyRange" at the insertion point:


 Sub SetRangeMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      Set MyRange = Selection.Range
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

The following macro returns the insertion point to the range set in the previous example:


 Sub GoToMark()
      On Error Resume Next
      Selection.GoTo What:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="mark"
      If Err > 0 Then MsgBox Err.Description
   End Sub

For more information about Range Method, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type Range Method, click Search, and then click to view "Range Method."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

MORE INFORMATION

The following is a sample AutoOpen macro that uses the GoBack method:


   Sub AutoOpen()
      Application.GoBack
   End Sub

For information about how to do this in earlier versions of Word, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q101453 GoBack Command Switches to Another Document

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q173707 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:

Q163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: wordcon vb vba vbe

Keywords : kbdta kbdtacode word8 word97
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb