In Office programs, you receive a "Specified COMMAND search directory had too many parameters" error message when you try to use an MS-DOS core command from the Shell function (213800)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Access 2003
  • Microsoft Access 2002
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft Access 97
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q213800

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Office, when you use the Shell function in a Visual Basic for Applications macro to execute an external MS-DOS command, an MS-DOS window may open and you may receive the following error message:
Specified COMMAND search directory had
Too many parameters
The MS-DOS window is fully functional and the command you were attempting to run from the macro can be successfully run from the MS-DOS prompt. The commands that return this error message are the following:
  • DIR
  • CLS
  • DEL
  • CD
  • MD (MKDIR)
  • RD (RMDIR)
  • COPY

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if you have not used the /c switch in the macro. The /c switch is required to properly execute MS-DOS commands in a Visual Basic for Application macro.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, add the /c switch after command.com. For example to create a new directory called mydir, use the following code in a macro: 
Shell "command.com /c md c:\mydir"
Note the /c switch after command.com.

MORE INFORMATION

You can perform most of the commands that are provided by command.com through statements and functions included in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications. Some common core MS-DOS commands and their Microsoft Visual Basic equivalent statements are listed below. 

MS-DOS       Visual Basic Statement/function

DEL          Kill 
CD           ChDir 
MD           MkDir 
RD           RmDir 
COPY         FileCopy 
DIR          Dir


Note For the correct syntax to use each Visual Basic statement, look up the statement in the Microsoft Visual Basic help. For example, to learn how to use Kill, type kill in the Answer Wizard and click Search.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbdtacode kberrmsg kbprb kbProgramming KB213800
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