OFF97: Dir Function Example in Visual Basic Help File Gives Run-Time Error '5' on NT System (200837)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q200837

SYMPTOMS

When you open the Visual Basic Help file example for Dir function on a computer running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you will receive the following error message:
Run - Time error '5' Invalid procedure call or argument.

CAUSE

This example macro uses the GetAttr() function to verify that the selected item is a folder. The Visual Basic function fails on Pagefile.sys, which is the Windows NT virtual memory paging file.
If (GetAttr(MyPath & MyName) And vbDirectory) = vbDirectory

RESOLUTION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to 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 requirements. For more information about running sample code, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 173707
TITLE : OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles


The Pagefile.sys file on a Windows NT 4.0 computer is being read as a folder when it is encountered, but when the file is checked by the GetAttr function it fails the value check. To work around this error message, ignore the Pagefile.sys file by adding a reference to it in the first If statement in the macro example. The following code is a copy of the example with the reference added. 
   'Display the names in C:\ that represent directories.
   MyPath = "c:\"   'Set the path.
   MyName = Dir(MyPath, vbDirectory)   ' Retrieve the first entry.
   
   Do While MyName <> ""   ' Start the loop.

      'Ignore the current directory and the encompassing directory.
      If MyName<>"." And MyName<>".." And MyName<>"Pagefile.sys"   Then

         'Use bitwise comparison to make sure MyName is a directory.
         If(GetAttr(MyPath & MyName) And vbDirectory) = vbDirectory Then

            'Display entry only if it represents a directory.
            Debug.Print MyName
         End If
      End If 
   MyName = Dir 
   'Get next entry.  
   Loop

STATUS

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

REFERENCES

For more information about Dir function, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type Dir in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about GetAttr function, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type Getattr in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/12/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB200837
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