WD97: Run-Time Error '424' Attempting to Ungroup Shape Objects

ID: Q161958


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows


SYMPTOMS

When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro that attempts to ungroup a range of objects, the following error message may appear:

Run time error '424': Object required


CAUSE

This error occurs because there are no objects selected to ungroup.


WORKAROUND

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To work around this problem, add the Select method to the Group and Ungroup commands, as in the following sample code:

Sub UnGroupShapes()
   Dim sShape1 As Shape
   Dim sShape2 As Shape
   ' Create new blank document.
   Application.Documents.Add
   ' Create two shapes(Hexagon and Heart).
   With ActiveDocument.Shapes
      ' Add Hexagon shape.
      Set sShape1 = .AddShape(10, 122.4, 79.2, 72#, 72#)
      ' Add Heart shape.
      Set sShape2 = .AddShape(21, 230.4, 79.2, 72#, 72#)
   End With
   ' Select both shapes.
   sShape1.Select
   ' The (0) argument in the following command allows
   ' selection of the second shape without deselecting
   ' the first shape.
   sShape2.Select (0)
   With Selection.ShapeRange
      ' Group the shapes.
      .Group.Select
      ' UnGroup the shapes and leave them selected.
      .Ungroup.Select
   End With
End Sub 
To have this code work properly, you can have the last two lines resemble the following sample (which groups the objects, reselects them, ungroups the objects, and then deselects them):

   ' Group the shapes.
   Selection.ShapeRange.Group.Select
   ' UnGroup the shapes and leave them deselected.
   Selection.ShapeRange.Ungroup 
Or you can use code similar to the following, as in the "Ungroupshapes" example (which groups the objects, selects them, ungroups the objects, and then leaves them selected):

   ' Group the shapes.
   Selection.ShapeRange.Group.Select
   ' UnGroup the shapes and leave them selected.
   Selection.ShapeRange.Ungroup.Select 
For more information about grouping and ungrouping shapes, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "ShapeRange," click Search, and then click to view "ShapeRange Collection Object."

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

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


Last Reviewed: August 8, 1999
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