PC Forms: Err Msg: Illegal Function Call

• Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer, version 1.0, running with Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version 3.0, 3.0b, or 3.2

SYMPTOMS

When you choose the Select E-Form command from the Mail menu of versions 3.0, 3.0b, or 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for Windows, you may receive the following error message:

   Illegal Function Call

CAUSE

This error sometimes indicates that a universal naming convention (UNC) path is defined for the SharedExtensionsDir in the MSMAIL.INI file. The Browser application code that parses a UNC shared extensions path may fail if the UNC path does not contain a backslash (\) as the last character in its definition. For example, the following MSMAIL.INI entry may generate the above error:

   SharedExtensionsDir=\\servername\share

RESOLUTION

To solve the problem, add a "\" to the end of the path definition:

   SharedExtensionsDir=\\servername\share\

MORE INFORMATION

You can also solve this problem by modifying the Browser application code that handles UNC paths. To do so:

1. Open the BROWSER.MAK project in Visual Basic (VB\EFORMS\MEFBROWS).

2. From the Project window, select BROWSER.FRM. Click the View Code button.

3. From the Proc: list box, select fConnectShared.

4. Modify the code as follows:

         If Left(szSharedDir, 2) = "\\" Then
            ' Handle UNC path and obtain connection substring length
            ' Ensure that the path doesn't end in a trailing slash
            If (Right(szSharedDir, 1) = "\") Then
                szSharedDir = Left(szSharedDir, Len(szSharedDir) - 1)
            End If
            iShare = InStr(3, szSharedDir, "\")
            iPath = Len(szSharedDir)
   
            ' see if a connection already exists
            szNetDrive = SzExistingConnection(Left(szSharedDir, iPath))
   
            If szNetDrive = "" Then
            ' No previous connection exists, find a free drive letter
               szNetDrive = GetFreeDrive()
            ' and connect if a drive is free
               If szNetDrive = "" Then
                  ' No free drive is available to connect
                  FConnectShared = False
                  Exit Function
               ElseIf WNetAddConnection(Left(szSharedDir, iPath), "",
         szNetDrive) <> 0 Then
                  ' Connection failed
                  FConnectShared = False
                  Exit Function
               End If
            End If
            szSharedDir = szNetDrive & Right(szSharedDir,
         Len(szSharedDir) - iPath)
         End If
   
   

1. Choose Make .EXE File from the File menu and replace the existing MEFBROWS.EXE in the WINDOWS subdirectory.