• VBA Video Tutorials

VBA - Error Handling

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There are three types of errors in programming: (a) Syntax Errors, (b) Runtime Errors, and (c) Logical Errors.

Syntax errors

Syntax errors, also called as parsing errors, occur at the interpretation time for VBScript. For example, the following line causes a syntax error because it is missing a closing parenthesis.

Function ErrorHanlding_Demo()
   dim x,y
   x = "Howcodex"
   y = Ucase(x
End Function

Runtime errors

Runtime errors, also called exceptions, occur during execution, after interpretation.

For example, the following line causes a runtime error because here the syntax is correct but at runtime it is trying to call fnmultiply, which is a non-existing function.

Function ErrorHanlding_Demo1()
   Dim x,y
   x = 10
   y = 20
   z = fnadd(x,y)
   a = fnmultiply(x,y)
End Function

Function fnadd(x,y)
   fnadd = x + y
End Function

Logical Errors

Logical errors can be the most difficult type of errors to track down. These errors are not the result of a syntax or runtime error. Instead, they occur when you make a mistake in the logic that drives your script and you do not get the result you expected.

You cannot catch those errors, because it depends on your business requirement what type of logic you want to put in your program.

For example, dividing a number by zero or a script that is written which enters into infinite loop.

Err Object

Assume if we have a runtime error, then the execution stops by displaying the error message. As a developer, if we want to capture the error, then Error Object is used.

Example

In the following example, Err.Number gives the error number and Err.Description gives the error description.

Err.Raise 6   ' Raise an overflow error.
MsgBox "Error # " & CStr(Err.Number) & " " & Err.Description
Err.Clear   ' Clear the error.

Error Handling

VBA enables an error-handling routine and can also be used to disable an error-handling routine. Without an On Error statement, any run-time error that occurs is fatal: an error message is displayed, and the execution stops abruptly.

On Error { GoTo [ line | 0 | -1 ] | Resume Next }

Sr.No. Keyword & Description
1

GoTo line

Enables the error-handling routine that starts at the line specified in the required line argument. The specified line must be in the same procedure as the On Error statement, or a compile-time error will occur.
2

GoTo 0

Disables the enabled error handler in the current procedure and resets it to Nothing.
3

GoTo -1

Disables the enabled exception in the current procedure and resets it to Nothing.
4

Resume Next

Specifies that when a run-time error occurs, the control goes to the statement immediately following the statement where the error occurred, and the execution continues from that point.

Example

Public Sub OnErrorDemo()
   On Error GoTo ErrorHandler   ' Enable error-handling routine.
   Dim x, y, z As Integer
   x = 50
   y = 0
   z = x / y   ' Divide by ZERO Error Raises
  
   ErrorHandler:    ' Error-handling routine.
   Select Case Err.Number   ' Evaluate error number.
      Case 10   ' Divide by zero error
         MsgBox ("You attempted to divide by zero!")
      Case Else
         MsgBox "UNKNOWN ERROR  - Error# " & Err.Number & " : " & Err.Description
   End Select
   Resume Next
End Sub
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