BUG: Error 451 "Object not a collection" When Using Left() (180455)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft eMbedded Visual Basic 3.0
Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 6.0

This article was previously published under Q180455

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:

(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

Use the Left Function in a standard module (*.bas).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create a new Windows CE project in either eMbedded Visual Basic or Visual Basic 6.0. Form1 is created by default.

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

Press F5 to run the project in the emulator and observe the error.

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	3/11/2005
Keywords:	kbBug kbpending kbToolkit KB180455