WD2000: Error Message If AutoText String Exceeds 255 Characters (212543)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000

This article was previously published under Q212543

SYMPTOMS

When you use the AutoTextEntries property to create AutoText entries, you may receive the following Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications error message:
Run-time error '5854':

String parameter too long.

CAUSE

By design, this error message occurs when the text string is longer than 255 characters.

WORKAROUND

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 how to use the sample code in this article, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

212536 OFF2000: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

To work around this problem, modify the macro to insert the text string into the document, select it, add the selection as an AutoText entry, and then remove the text string. The following sample Visual Basic for Applications macro demonstrates this procedure:
Sub AutoTextEntryExample()

   Dim sATName As String
   Dim sATEntry As String
   Dim sATNewEntry As AutoTextEntry

   ' Sample AutoText Entry Name.
   sATName = "ExampleAutoTextEntryName"

   ' Sample AutoText Entry Text of 500 characters.
   sATEntry = String(500, "A")

   If Documents.Count = 0 Then Documents.Add
   If Len(sATEntry) < 256 Then

      ' If the length of the text is less than 256 characters,
      ' add it as a new AutoText Entry.
      Selection.Range.Collapse
      Set sATNewEntry = NormalTemplate.AutoTextEntries.Add _
         (Name:=sATName, Range:=Selection.Range)
      sATNewEntry.Value = sATEntry

   Else

      ' If the length of the text is greater than 255 characters,
      ' insert it into the active document and add it as a new
      ' AutoText Entry.

      With Selection.Range
         .Collapse
         .Text = sATEntry
         .Select
         NormalTemplate.AutoTextEntries.Add _
            Name:=sATName, Range:=Selection.Range
         .Delete
      End With

   End If

End Sub
				

REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

212623 WD2000: Macro Programming Resources

226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbautotext kbdtacode kberrmsg kbmacroexample kbnofix kbprb KB212543