CreateObject does not create new PowerPoint session (222783)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
This article was previously published under Q222783

SYMPTOMS

When you use the CreateObject function, which is used to control the Microsoft PowerPoint object model from Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications code, you may notice the following behavior:
  • If PowerPoint is running, a new instance of PowerPoint is not created.
  • If PowerPoint is not running, a new instance is created.
This behavior is normal.

CAUSE

PowerPoint is a single-session program. CreateObject cannot create a new instance of PowerPoint, if it is already running. This behavior is similar to the Visual Basic GetObject function.

MORE INFORMATION

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. NOTE: The following macro examples work only in PowerPoint. Visual Basic for Applications macros are not supported by the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The CreateObject function creates new instances of multiple session programs. Microsoft Word is an example of a multiple-session program. The following code sample creates two sessions of Word. 
   Sub TwoWordSessions()

      Dim word(2) As Object
      Dim i As Byte

      For i = 1 To 2
         ' Call CreateObject.
         <Set word(i) = CreateObject("PowerPoint.Application")>

         ' Make Word visible.
         word(i).Visible = True

      Next i

   End Sub
The same code used with PowerPoint launches one session at most.

NOTE: To use this code with PowerPoint, you must change the string passed to CreateObject. The following code is an example of this: 
   Set word(i) = CreateObject("PowerPoint.Application.8")

REFERENCES

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 How to run sample code from Knowledge Base Articles

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbcode kbdtacode kbinfo kbmacro kbProgramming KB222783
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.