Copying worksheet programmatically causes run-time error 1004 in Excel (210684)

Sub CopySheetTest()
    Dim iTemp As Integer
    Dim oBook As Workbook
    Dim iCounter As Integer
    
    ' Create a new blank workbook:
    iTemp = Application.SheetsInNewWorkbook
    Application.SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1
    Set oBook = Application.Workbooks.Add
    Application.SheetsInNewWorkbook = iTemp
    
    ' Add a defined name to the workbook
    ' that RefersTo a range:
    oBook.Names.Add Name:="tempRange", _
        RefersTo:="=Sheet1!$A$1"
            
    ' Save the workbook:
    oBook.SaveAs "c:\test2.xls"
    
    ' Copy the sheet in a loop. Eventually,
    ' you get error 1004: Copy Method of
    ' Worksheet class failed.
    For iCounter = 1 To 275
        oBook.Worksheets(1).Copy After:=oBook.Worksheets(1)        
    Next
End Sub
				

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. To resolve this problem, save and close the workbook periodically while the copy process is occurring, as in the following sample code:

Sub CopySheetTest()
    Dim iTemp As Integer
    Dim oBook As Workbook
    Dim iCounter As Integer
    
    ' Create a new blank workbook:
    iTemp = Application.SheetsInNewWorkbook
    Application.SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1
    Set oBook = Application.Workbooks.Add
    Application.SheetsInNewWorkbook = iTemp
    
    ' Add a defined name to the workbook
    ' that RefersTo a range:
    oBook.Names.Add Name:="tempRange", _
        RefersTo:="=Sheet1!$A$1"
            
    ' Save the workbook:
    oBook.SaveAs "c:\test2.xls"
    
    ' Copy the sheet in a loop. Eventually,
    ' you get error 1004: Copy Method of
    ' Worksheet class failed.
    For iCounter = 1 To 275
        oBook.Worksheets(1).Copy After:=oBook.Worksheets(1)
        'Uncomment this code for the workaround:
        'Save, close, and reopen after every 100 iterations:
        If iCounter Mod 100 = 0 Then
            oBook.Close SaveChanges:=True
            Set oBook = Nothing
            Set oBook = Application.Workbooks.Open("c:\test2.xls")
        End If
    Next
End Sub
				

Note The number of times you can copy a worksheet before you must save the workbook varies with the size of the worksheet.