Error 4609 'String too long'. Received when using Word automation from Access (2K3) to insert a formfield value in a Word document.

Question

The Access field is a memo. The Word form field is limited to 1000 characters (hence the need for the memo field in the Access database). Interestingly enough, as long as I only insert a max of 255 characters I get no error. Even more stunning is that there is no error in processing the document to retrieve data filled in by a user, i.e., if the user enters 472 characters (for example) then all of that can be pull from the formfield.Result and properly placed in the database memo field. The problem occurs if I attempt to regenerate the document with more than 255 characters of data in the memo field.

Any help would be most appreciated!!! James

PS - this may not be posted in the proper place ... but it seemed to be the best fit based on the selectable topics.

Answer 1

It's an old and very annoying bug in VBA. See here for a workaround.

---

Jay Freedman MS Word MVP

Answer 2

Use

Dim docprot As Boolean

With ActiveDocument

    If .ProtectionType <> wdNoProtection Then

        blnprot = True

        .Unprotect

    Else

        blnprot = False

    End If

    .Bookmarks("Text1").Range.Fields(1).Result.Text = Str1

    If blnprot = True Then

        .Protect Type:=wdAllowOnlyFormFields, NoReset:=True

    End If

End With

-- Hope this helps.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP,

dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org

Posted via the Community Bridge

"threni" wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

May I ask what to do when this solution causes another error to the effect that the document is already unprotected?

---

Doug Robbins - Word MVP dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org

Answer 3

May I ask what to do when this solution causes another error to the effect that the document is already unprotected?

Answer 4

Woooooow, many thanks to both of you, I thought I would become crazy with this odd issue.

Had the same issue with word automation though a C# windows application.

This does not work:

newDoc.FormFields.get_Item(ref field).Result = strValue;

This works:

newDoc.FormFields.get_Item(ref field).Range.Fields[1].Result.Text = strValue;

Thanks !!!

Answer 5

Thank you Jay. I was just coming back here to put a note that I had found a solution from a different source. I'm not sure why I didn't find it when doing my initial search (which prompted me to post this question). The link you provided was much more succinct and informative and would have saved me quite a bit of time! Many thanks again... James