WD2000: Word Still Runs After Automation Session (212675)

SYMPTOMS

When you control Word from another application using Automation, as in the following example,

Sub WordTask()
   Dim appWd As Object
   Set appWd = CreateObject("Word.Application")
   Set appWd = Nothing
End Sub

Word remains loaded in memory, even though the code uses the Set statement to set the instance of Word to Nothing.

NOTE: IF you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to bring up the Windows Task List, you see that Winword is still running.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. To quit Word when initiating an instance using Automation, you must use the Visual Basic for Applications Quit method, as described in the "Work Around" section of this article.

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. The proper method to use when ending a Word Automation session is to use the Quit method. For example:

Sub WordTask()
   Dim appWd As Object
   Set appWd = CreateObject("Word.Application")
   ' Quit the Word session.
   appWd.Quit
   ' Set the Word OLE Object to nothing to free
   ' the appWd object memory.
   Set appWd = Nothing
End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

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

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

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications