PPT97: Run-Time Error When Opening Shortcuts Programmatically (161596)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q161596

SYMPTOMS

When a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications program attempts to open a shortcut to a presentation, you may receive a message similar to the following:
Run-Time error '-2147467259 (80004005)'

PowerPoint could not open the file.

CAUSE

PowerPoint uses the MS-DOS name to launch a presentation. The name of a shortcut, as it appears in Windows Explorer, is not the same as the MS-DOS name.

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. Change the string in the Presentations.Open statement to reflect the MS-DOS name. Do the following to find the MS-DOS name:

  1. Right-click the shortcut to the presentation, and then click Properties.
  2. Click the General tab, and then look at the MS-DOS name field.
  3. Change the Presentations.Open statement in your macro.

    Afterwards, it may look something like this: 
          Presentations.Open "c:\windows\desktop\tesppt~1.lnk"
    NOTE: .lnk is the extension used by shortcuts.
The macro should now open the presentation.

WORKAROUND

Instead of using a shortcut in the Presentation.Open statement, use the path to the presentation.

REFERENCES

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

163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbcode kbdtacode kbmacro kbprb kbProgramming KB161596
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