WD98: "String Too Long" Using Over 255 Characters

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to assign the value of a variable containing more than 255 characters to a FormField object, you will receive the following error message:

   Run-time error '4609': "String too long"

CAUSE

The following Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro (Sub procedure) is an example of code that can cause the error:

   Sub StringTooLongError()

      Dim sMyVar As String
      sMyVar = String(256, "x")
      ActiveDocument.FormFields(1).Result = sMyVar

   End Sub

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 engineers 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 the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. 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/refguide/default.asp

   Sub WorkAround255Limit()

      If ActiveDocument.ProtectionType <> wdNoProtection Then
          ActiveDocument.Unprotect
      End If

      Selection.GoTo What:=wdGoToBookmark, Name:="Text1"
      Selection.Collapse
      Selection.MoveRight wdCharacter, 1
      Selection.TypeText (String(256, "W"))
      ActiveDocument.Protect Password:="", NoReset:=True, Type:= _
         wdAllowOnlyFormFields

   End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q127743
   TITLE     : GetFormResult$() Function Does Not Return Complete Text
               String

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications