XL2000: Error Message When You Use Macro to Show Format AutoShape Dialog Box

In Microsoft Excel 2000, if you run a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro that attempts to display the Format AutoShape dialog box, the Format AutoShape dialog box may not appear. You may receive the following error message: The same macro works correctly in versions of Microsoft Excel earlier than Microsoft Excel 97, and it works intermittently in Microsoft Excel 2000.

You may receive the error message if both of the following conditions are true:

�	Your macro contains a line of code similar to either of the following: Application.Dialogs(xlDialogPatterns).Show -or- Application.ExecuteExcel4Macro ("PATTERNS?()") -and-
�	An AutoShape is selected when one of the preceding lines of code is run.

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The xlDialogPatterns dialog box is not available for use with new drawing objects and AutoShapes in Excel 2000. However, it may be possible in some cases to display the Format AutoShape dialog box by using code similar to the following:

Sub Test1()
    SendKeys "^1", True
End Sub
				

If the drawing object or AutoShape is selected when this code is executed, the Format AutoShape dialog box will be displayed, and you can format the AutoShape. When you click OK or Cancel, the macro will continue.

If you have not renamed any of your drawing objects or AutoShapes, you can use code similar to the following to display the correct dialog box:

Sub Test2()
    'If the name of the drawing object begins with "AutoShape", then...
    If Left(Selection.Name, 9) = "AutoShape" Then
        '...use SendKeys to display the dialog box.
        SendKeys "^1", True
            'Otherwise, use the traditional method.
    Else
        Application.Dialogs(xlDialogPatterns).Show
    End If
End Sub
				

NOTE: These methods may not always work, because it is not always possible to guarantee that the sent keys produce the intended result. Note also that the SendKeys method is not available in Microsoft Excel for Mac.

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

AutoShapes are a group of ready-made shapes that include such basic shapes as rectangles and circles, plus a variety of lines and connectors, block arrows, flowchart symbols, stars and banners, and callouts. The AutoShapes that may cause the problem described in this article are most of those found on the AutoShapes menu of the Drawing toolbar. This includes AutoShapes from the following menus:

�	Connectors
�	Basic Shapes
�	Block Arrows
�	Flowchart
�	Stars and Banners
�	Callouts

NOTE: Not all of the Basic Shapes result in the behavior described in the "Symptoms" section of this article.

For more information about using the built-in dialog boxes, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type built-in dialog box argument list in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.