BUG: Err Object Returns Zero Number and Empty Description. (255625)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q255625

SYMPTOMS

After an object raises a trappable error, the client checks the Err object and finds that the error number is zero and the error description is empty.

CAUSE

This problem occurs only when the client application is compiled to native code and when the client does not have a local or global variable that stores a reference to the object that raises the error.

Assume that you have an object called Object1 and it has a property called ChildObject that returns a reference to another object, Object2. If you call a method on Object2 using a syntax such as: 
Object1.ChildObject.Method
you see this type of behavior because no variable holds a reference to Object2.

RESOLUTION

The workaround for this problem is to assign an object to a variable and avoid using the preceding syntax. Do the following: 
Dim MyObject as Object2

Set MyObject = Object1.ChildObject
' call the method using the MyObject variable
MyObject.Method
Another workaround is to compile your project to p-code.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Start a new ActiveX DLL project. Class1 is created by default.
  2. From the Project menu, select Project1 Properties, and then set the name to MyDll.
  3. From the Project menu, add a new class module to this project. This is called Class2 by default.
  4. Paste the following code into the Class1 code module:
    Option Explicit
Public Sub DoSomething
    Err.Raise 101
End Sub

Private Sub Class_Terminate
    Dim i as Long

    ' if you comment the following line, the error object is not reset
    On Error Resume Next
	
    i=0
End Sub
  5. Paste the following code into the Class2 code module:
    Option Explicit
Public Property Get ChildObject() As Class1
    Set ChildObject = New Class1
End Property
  6. Save the project and compile it as MyDll.Dll.
  7. Start a new Standard EXE project. Form 1 is created by default.
  8. From the Project menu, select References, select MyDll, and then click OK to add a reference to the DLL you just created.
  9. Add a CommandButton to Form1. This is Command1 by default.
  10. Paste the following code into Form1's code module:
    Option Explicit
Private Sub Command1_Click()
   Dim MyObj As New MyDll.Class2
   On Error GoTo p1
   MyObj.ChildObject.DoSomething
   Exit Sub
p1:
   MsgBox "Err.Number=" & Err.Number
End Sub
  11. From the Project menu, select Project1 Properties, and then select the Compile tab. Select Compile to P-Code.
  12. From the File menu, select Make to compile the Standard EXE project to p-code. Run the executable and click on Command1. Note that you get a message box with "Err.Number=101" as expected.
  13. Dismiss the message box and stop the project to return to the design environment.
  14. From the Project menu, select Project1 Properties, and select the Compile tab. Select Compile to Native Code.
  15. From the File menu, select Make to compile the project to native code. Run the executable and click on Command1. Note that you get a message box with "Err.Number=0" which is not as expected. The problem is caused by the Class_Terminate event. When you use the syntax Object1.ChildObject.Method, Object2 gets released before the next line of code is executed, which triggers the Class_Terminate event, and the Err object is reset in the terminate event procedure. If you comment out the line that uses the Err object in this event, the problem does not happen.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/12/2003
Keywords:kbBug kbnofix KB255625
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