WD97: SaveAs Method Overwrites Existing Documents

ID: Q185639

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the ActiveDocument.SaveAs method to save a document and you specify the name of a file that already exists for the FileName argument, Microsoft Word overwrites the existing file without warning.

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 professionals 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 a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/

For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

To work around this problem, use the following Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications sample macro.

The following macro tests to see whether the file you intend to save (Save as) already exists in the current folder. If it does, it prompts you with a message asking whether you want to overwrite the existing file. Clicking Yes overwrites the file with the new file. Clicking No displays the Save as dialog box, allowing you to enter a different name for the file.


Sub SaveAsExample()
   Dim strSaveAsName As String
   Dim strMsg As String
   '
   ' Replace the following document name "MyDoc.Doc" with
   ' the name you want to use to "Save As."
   strSaveAsName = "MyDoc.Doc"

   ' Message to return if file exists.
   strMsg = "Do you want to replace the existing " & strSaveAsName & "?"

   ' Check if the file exists.
   If Dir(strSaveAsName & "*") = "" Then
      ' If file does not exist, save without prompting.
      ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:=strSaveAsName
   Else
      ' If file does exist, prompt with warning message.
      ' Check value of button clicked in message box.
      Select Case MsgBox(strMsg, vbYesNoCancel + vbExclamation)
         Case vbYes
            ' If Yes was chosen, save and overwrite existing file.
            ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:=strSaveAsName
         Case vbNo
            ' If No was chosen, prompt for file name
            ' using the File SaveAs dialog box.
            With Dialogs(wdDialogFileSaveAs)
               .Name = ""
               .Show
            End With
         Case Else
         ' If Cancel was chosen, do nothing.
      End Select
   End If
End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the SaveAs method, in the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "SaveAs", click Search, and then click to view "SaveAs 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

For additional information, click the article number below to view the 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: application custom programming vba vbe vb

Keywords : kbdta kbdtacode word97
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug