XL98: "Automation Error" When You View References Dialog Box (176263)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q176263

SYMPTOMS

When you click References on the Tools menu in the Visual Basic Editor, you receive the following error message:
Automation error
and the References dialog box does not appear.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

  • On your computer, the active workbook contains a reference to a file, such as an add-in or another workbook, stored on a network server or other shared location.

    -and-
  • On a different computer, another user has a workbook open that contains a reference to the same copy of the file.

    -and-
  • The other user opened their workbook BEFORE you opened your workbook.
The following steps demonstrate this problem:

  1. Another user opens Workbook2, which contains a reference to SharedAddIn.
  2. You open Workbook1, which contains a reference to the same copy of SharedAddIn.
  3. In the Visual Basic Editor, you click References on the Tools menu.
You receive the "Automation error" error message, because the other user opened their workbook before you. If the other user clicks References on the Tools menu, the dialog box appears correctly.

RESOLUTION

If this problem occurs, you will not be able to view or change references for your workbook (Workbook1) until the other user closes their workbook (Workbook2). Once they have closed their workbook, you should be able to display the References dialog box and view or change references, if necessary.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft 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

You can create a reference in a workbook to another file, such as an add-in or another workbook, by performing the following steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor.
  2. In the Project window, activate the workbook in which you want to create the reference.
  3. On the Tools menu, click References.
  4. In the References dialog box, click the check box next to the file to which you want to create a reference. If the file is not listed, click Browse, and use the Add Reference dialog box to select and open the appropriate file.
  5. Click OK.
Multiple workbooks can contain references to the same file. This allows you to store an add-in used by many users on a network server and then create references to the add-in from each workbook that makes use of the add-in. However, if you do this, you may receive the "Automation error" error message when you attempt to view or change references. Note that the error message does not indicate who opened their workbook first, so it may be difficult to prevent this problem from occurring.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg kbProgramming kbusage KB176263
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