vb.net: Jump out of exceptioned function - vb.net

I am just reworking my VB6 in .NET.
I have a function that is called NonNullString(byval uAny As Object) As String
In VB6 I worked with a sqlite wrapper, and a recordset's member could be accessed by using
Dim sString$
sString = r("somefield")
(without ".Value")
I have really many of these fields, and I changed most of them to ".Value", but for some I forgot it.
An exception is therefore raised in the function NoNullString, and I am looking for a way to quickly jump out of the function in order to see what the caller was and improve the code.
F5 does not do the job.
Does anybody have any ideas?
Thank you!

Press CTRL+L to see call stack. From there you can navigate through the stack.
You can then use Set Next Statement (CTRL+F9) on the End Function of your errored function. Two times F10 to complete execution of this function. Repeat this step till you are in the scope where you think the error originated. Then, if you are on x86 (so you have Edit&Continue available), fix your code, and drag your currently executed line to the moment when this fix would occur. And then try running your function again.
Unfortunately, you cannot Set Next Statement outside of the current block function/sub, which I was going to suggest originally.

Related

Finding a syntax error in a large VBA/MS Access project

I have a MS Access database that displays an error message about a SQL syntax error on launch. "Syntax Error in query. Incomplete query clause." It also shows another error a few seconds after I hit "OK" on the first one.
Here's the two errors: https://imgur.com/a/PesjIFk
But it doesn't tell me where the syntax error is. There are SQL statements in a bunch of different places all over this project. This is a really large project and it wouldn't be practical to just look through all the code hoping that I notice an error someplace. How can I find out where this error is?
EDIT: Ok, so apparently you have to have a keyboard that has a "Break" key on it in order to even find where the error is. Wow. Fortunately I happen to have one. Here's the code that Access takes me to if I press break when I see the error message. This code is for a subform of another form. It highlights the first line (Private Sub Form_Current()).
Private Sub Form_Current()
If NumEnums > 0 Then
CurrentEnum = val(Nz(bit_value_edit.value)) 'Update CurrentEnum to the currently selected enum
Call UpdateEnumsLabel(Me.Parent![enums label]) 'Update label
End If
End Sub
...and here's UpdateEnumsLabel():
Public Sub UpdateEnumsLabel(ByRef label As Control)
If NumEnums > 0 Then
label.Caption = "Enums: " & CurrentEnum & "/" & NumEnums
Else
label.Caption = "Enums: 0"
End If
End Sub
The definition for CurrentEnum:
Public CurrentEnum, CurrentPort, CurrentFile, CurrentGroup As Long
I'm thinking that this error is unrelated to the code in Form_Current(), but Access is highlighting that line because the error happens when the form is opened. But the form doesn't contain anything that uses a query, so I'm confused as to what query Access has a problem with.
When the error Message pops up, Use Control+Break. It will take you to the line causes the issue.
You should also open a module and form the debug option in the VBA editor select "Compile All Modules"
And since it appears to happening on open/load, you can check both the macros and the main modules to find anything that triggers on AutoExec.
Often ctrl-break will hit the line where you errored out. However, in the case of multiple “events”, and code without error handling, then often the error occurs in the routine that called the code, not the actual code that caused the error.
What I would do launch the application (hold down the shift key to prevent any start up code, or forms running).
Now that you launched the application, but without forms or code running, then check for an autoexecc macro (if there is one, check what code it attempts to run).
If there not an autoexec macro in use, then check under file->options->current database. In this view, you can look/see/determine what the name of the start-up form is.
Once you determined the start-up form (or start up module/code) called from autoexec macro, then you can simply add a blank code module, and place in your code the SAME command that is used to start your application.
So let’s assume no autoexec macro, and you determine that the start-up form is frmMain.
So now, we can launch the application (hold down shift key to prevent any start up code from running). Now, type into a new “test” standard code module the following code:
Sub MyGo
Stop
Docmd.OpenForm "frmMain"
End sub
So you type in above code, hit ctrl-s to save the above code. Now with your cursor anyplace inside of the above code, you simply hit F5 to run.
At this point you hit/stop on the “stop” command in the debugger. At this point, you then can hit f8 to step to the next line of code. If the form in question calls other code etc., you still be able to single step, and “eventually” you hit the line which causes the error.
While the application may be large, a simple look at the start up forms (and huts then the start-up code) means that you ONLY really need to trace and look at the start up code – not the whole application.

Colleagues get error 5 in Excel-file with VBA, but same file works fine on my computer?

We have an Excel-file with a large amount of VBA behind it. The Excel-file works just fine on my computer, but so far 3 of my colleagues (non-IT'ers) have gotten this error:
Runtime error 5:
Invalid procedure call or argument
The error is located on this line, and I don't see why it is throwing an error there because it's just a simple Set (and it works perfectly fine on my computer):
Set MyButton = Application.CommandBars("Attributions").Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton, Before:=10)
We all have the exact same Excel-file. I even sent them my version of the file, in which everything is running fine and no errors happen, but even when they open my version of the file they still get the above error on the above line!
What exactly could cause this? We all have Office 2013 and updates are installed automatically. The problem started about 2 weeks ago with one colleague and since this week I heard from two other colleagues that they have the same problem. One even said it suddenly worked again after he moved to a different desk (which I doubt would have an influence) but shortly after, it started getting the error again.
I have absolutely no idea why they get the error, or what might cause it. Seeing as we now all have the same version and they still get the error, I am thinking it might have something to do with Excel itself but that's just my idea.
Does this sound familiar to anyone here? Or does anyone know what might cause this, and how it can be fixed?
Edit: a while ago I checked on my colleagues their computers to see if the CommandBar was present, and it was. Even then the error still happened.
I suggest you to use a function that checks if there is a CommandBar in your Application like this:
Function IsCommandBarValid(cbName As String) As Boolean
Dim i As Long
IsCommandBarValid = True
For i = 1 To Application.CommandBars.Count
If (Application.CommandBars(i).Name = cbName) Then
Exit Function
End If
Next i
IsCommandBarValid = False
End Function
Now, You can use it to see that your user have that CommandBar in his or her Application, then make it like this:
If (Not IsCommandBarValid("Attributions")) Then
Call Application.CommandBars.Add(Name:="Attributions")
End If
' And after this add your code
Set MyButton = Application.CommandBars("Attributions").Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton, Before:=10)
Invalid procedure call or argument (Error 5)
Some part of the call can't be completed. This error has the following causes and solutions:
An argument probably exceeds the range of permitted values. For example, the Sin function can only accept values within a certain range. Positive arguments less than 2,147,483,648 are accepted, while 2,147,483,648 generates this error.
Check the ranges permitted for arguments.
This error can also occur if an attempt is made to call a procedure that isn't valid on the current platform. For example, some procedures may only be valid for Microsoft Windows, or for the Macintosh, and so on.
Check platform-specific information about the procedure.
For additional information, select the item in question and press F1 (in Windows) or HELP (on the Macintosh).
MSDN Source Article

Running a loop while debugging VBA

The Problem
I am trying to debug some code, and somewhere in the middle I stopped at a breakpoint. Now I want to change some variables and run a certain loop several times.
How far did I get?
I know how to change the variables, but somehow I get stuck when trying to run the loop in the immediate window. Here is an example:
Dim i As Integer
Dim j As Integer
For i = 0 To 6
j=i ' Do something
Next i
I tried several variations of the code, but each time I get the following error:
Compile error: Next without for
Other relevant information
I tried searching but mostly found information about problems with loops, whilst I am quite sure the loop itself is fine. (Especially as I reached it before arriving at the breakpoint).
The only place I saw someone addres this situation, he reduced the loop to a single line, however to do this every time would be very impractical in my case.
I realize that I could call a function containing the loop, and then the function call would probably work, but again this feels quite impractical. So I guess it boils down to the following question.
The question
What is a practical way to run a loop whilst debugging VBA code in Excel?
There is actually a way for using loops or other multi-line statements in the Immediate Window - using a colon : to separate statements instead of a new line.
Full solution is described here.
Note that in the Immediate Window you also don't have to declare the variables using a Dim statement.
To summarize, your snippet would look something like this:
For i = 0 To 6: j=i: debug.Print i+j: Next i
I think I understand your question. You want to run a multi-line code block (i.e. the loop) in the Immediate Window. This throws errors because the Immediate Window is only intended for single lines of code.
I don't have any suggestions other than those you already mentioned. I'd recommend putting your test loop into a separate function and calling that from the Immediate Window:
Sub Test()
Dim i As Integer
Dim j As Integer
For i = 0 To 6
j=i ' Do something
Next i
End
Another option is to set several breakpoints. You can also run one line of code at a time with F8.
What is likely the preferred method (i.e., what most people actually do) is use the full power of the IDE, which includes the Immediate, Locals and Watch panes. You can change the value of most variables at runtime by direct assignment in the Immediate Pane (i=6 will do exactly what you think it should do). The IDE also allows you to set breakpoints, add watch conditions, step through code line-by-line using the F8, step through function or procedure calls using Shift+F8, stepping over (and back) through code using the mouse/cursor, and with a few exceptions, you can even add new variables during runtime.

Delegate function to return value

I am trying to get value from the delegate function. Basically I am trying to get the richboxtext line length from delegate function.
Here is my function
Private Delegate Function getrichlengthmain(ByVal TB As RichTextBox) As String
Private Function getrichlenghtdele(ByVal TB As RichTextBox) As string
Return TB.Lines.Length
End Function
And I am calling it by
Dim d As getrichlengthmain
d = AddressOf getrichlenghtdele
dim returnvalue as string
returnvalue = d.BeginInvoke(FstList,nothing,nothing)
2 problems in this code
1st problem
when I change the code from "returnvalue = d.BeginInvoke(FstList,nothing,nothing)" to "d.BeginInvoke(FstList,nothing,nothing)"
The cross-thread error popout while debuiging
2nd problem
How do I get the value from the function without getting any cross thread error.
Very thanks for your time and thanks in advance for solving it.
You are experiencing an error because the control you are trying to access was created on a different thread from the one you are accessing it on. This is a common mistake when developing threaded UI applications in .Net.
There are (at least) two ways to tackle the problem you have, the lazy way and the correct way. To solve this the lazy way, you simply stop the check for illegal cross-threading calls to controls from taking place by including this line of code somewhere in your UI component:
Control.CheckForIllegalCrossThreadCalls = False
A better way to deal with the problem is to ensure you code executes on the correct thread (therefore maintaining thread safety). One method of accomplishing this is described here.

Strange / unstable behaviour on CreatePivotTable()

I am writing VBA code to automate some processes in Excel and I am encountering a very strange behavior for which I have not been able to find documentation / help.
I have a procedure MAJ_GF that first executes function GF.Update, checks the result, and then launches procedure GF.Build (which basically takes the data obtained by GF.Update from different worksheets and does a bunch of stuff with it).
At some point, this "bunch of stuff" requires using a pivot table, so GF.Build contains the following line:
Set pvt = ThisWorkbook.PivotCaches.Create(xlDatabase, _
"'source_GF'!R1C1:R" & j & "C" & k).CreatePivotTable("'TCD_GF'!R4C1", "GFTCD1")
The strange behavior is this:
when I run MAJ_GF, VBA properly executes GF.Update, then launches GF.Build, and stops at the line described above complaining "Bad argument or procedure call"
when I manually run GF.Update, then manually run GF.Build, everything goes smoothly and GF.Build does what it has to do from beginning to end with no errors
even stranger, when I set a break-point on the incriminated line, run MAJ_GF then VBA pauses on the line as expected, and when I say "Continue"... it just continues smoothly and with no errors !
I turned this around and around and around, double-checked the value of every variable, and this just makes no sense.
Ideas anybody?
Few ideas come to my mind:
There's still some update going on in the background. Try DoEvents and Application.Wait before the line you mentiond
Also check, if any data connections are able to update in the background - if so disable the background refresh
Very rarely (usually in older version and when involving Charts), unhiding the Excel window (in case you used Application.Visible = False and enabling ScreenUpdating helped..
Are you using any "exotic" references/add-ins? Disable them and see if the problem persists.
Try restarting your machine
Not that I'm too optimistic that either will solve your problem - but give it a try! Best of luck!