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

• Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 6.0
• Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

If the Left Function is used in a form module, the following error occurs:

Error 451 "Object not a collection"

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.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a new Windows CE (HPC) Project in Visual Basic. 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.

© Microsoft Corporation 1999, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Mike Dixon, Microsoft Corporation

Additional query words: wince vbce vbce5 vbce6

Keywords : kbToolkit kbVBp kbVBp500bug kbVBp600bug kbWinCE100 kbGrpVB
Version : WINDOWS:1.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug