XL2000: How to Programmatically Create a Reference (213529)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000

This article was previously published under Q213529

SUMMARY

This article provides sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Sub procedures (or macros) that programmatically create and remove a reference to another project.

MORE INFORMATION

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 Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Creating a Reference to Another Project

  1. Close all open Microsoft Excel workbooks, and then create two new workbooks.
  2. Save the workbooks as Book1.xls and Book2.xls in the C:\My Documents folder.
  3. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).
  4. If the Project window is not visible, click Project Explorer on the View menu.
  5. In the Project window, click VBAProject (Book1.xls).
  6. On the Insert menu, click Module.

    This step adds a module in the Book1.xls project.
  7. In the module, type the following code:
    Sub Create_Reference()
    
        Application.VBE.ActiveVBProject.References.AddFromFile _
            "C:\My Documents\Book2.xls"
    
        Use_Book2_Reference
    
    End Sub
    
    Sub Use_Book2_Reference()
    
        'Make calls to Book2.xls objects here.
    
    End Sub
    						
    NOTE: You cannot make reference calls to objects that have been added to the object library programmatically in the same procedure. You must run another procedure to make the calls.
  8. In the Project window, click VBAProject (Book2.xls).
  9. If the Properties window is not visible, click Properties Window on the View menu.
  10. Next to the (Name) property, type Project2.

    NOTE: If you want to create a reference to another project, that project cannot use the same value for the (Name) property.For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    213595 XL2000: Err Msg: Name Conflicts with Existing Module, Project, or Object Library

  11. Run the Create_Reference macro you created in step 7.

    This step creates a reference in Book1.xls to the project in Book2.xls.
  12. To verify the reference, click References on the Tools menu.

    In the References - VBAProject dialog box, the Project2 check box should be selected.
  13. Click OK.

Removing a Reference to Another Project

The following steps assume you followed all the steps in the "Creating a Reference to Another Project" section.
  1. In the module in which you typed the Create_Reference macro, type the following code:
    Sub Remove_Reference()
    
        Dim x As Object
        Set x = Application.VBE.ActiveVBProject _
           .References.Item("Project2")
    
        Application.VBE.ActiveVBProject.References.Remove x
    End Sub
    					
  2. Run the Remove_Reference macro.

    This step removes the reference to the project in Book2.xls.
  3. To verify whether Microsoft Excel removed the reference, click References on the Tools menu.

    In the References - VBAProject dialog box, the Project2 check box should be cleared.
  4. Click OK.

REFERENCES

For more information about the References object, create a reference to the "Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Extensibility" library, and then search the Object Browser. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click References.
  2. In the References dialog box, click to select the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Extensibility check box, and then click OK.
  3. In the Object Browser, search the VBIDE library for the References class.
For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic forApplications, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbhowto kbinfo kbProgramming KB213529