VBA : Enexpected running VBA from cmd line

Question

I wanted to open an existing ppt using Wscript and modify it. For that I am opening the file in visual studio editor and executing the script from cmd in windows using WScript hi.vbs

But when I ran the same code I am getting error.

Expected end of statement in line 4

Line 4 looks like Dim objNewPowerPoint As Object However Same case works when I run code in excel VBA editor.

When I am removing the As object I am not getting any error nor any changes are happening in the PPT file. Wondering what is the possible issue.

I am not using excel vba or word vba i am just running the file from cmd

Sub Open_an_existing_Presentations()

Dim objNewPowerPoint As Object
Dim MyPresentation  As Object
Dim pSlides  As Object

Set objNewPowerPoint = CreateObject(PowerPoint.Application)
'Make this Application Object Visible
objNewPowerPoint.Visible = True

Please help me how can i modify and more importantly how to see both errors compile and syntax.

FYI : I am completely new into VBA and I am trying to update a PPT and wanted to run vba script from another program so trying something like this. Best suggestions are always welcome

Welcome to Stack Overflow! The first thing you need to realize in regards to your question is that vba, vbscript, vb.net, vb6 etc are all similar, but not interchangeable. You can't run VBA from the command line. You are probably thinking of vbscript (VBS). Given that information, you might to some Googling into how to run the commands your trying to run, but in VBS instead. — ashleedawg
– ashleedawg, Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 8:51
An overview on Wikipedia: VBA and VBS. Also Common Things You Can Do with VBScript — ashleedawg
– ashleedawg, Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 8:51
VBScript is untyped, so to declare a variable you must just Dim X not Dim X as SomeType — Alex K.
– Alex K., Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 9:54
yeah i got that but why not it is throwing any error when in statements like Set MyPresentation = objNewPowerPoint.Presentations.Open("C:\Users\vmishra\Desktop\PPT-Slides.pptx") consider ppt path is wrong I am running like Wscript hi.vbs — J Doe
– J Doe, Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 10:04

CatCat · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-11 10:30:54Z

1

In VBScript you cannot dim something as something.

Dim objNewPowerPoint
Dim MyPresentation
Dim pSlides

And dim is optional and serves no technical purpose in VBS (it merely catches spelling mistakes if Option Explicit is specified, else it does nothing at all as in your case except take time to the process the line). In compiled languages it allocates storage and checks data types when using it.

When you use Set = VBS knows it an object and makes it one (4 x 32 bit integers - One a reference count and another a memory address of the function table for the object - two are unused). If you use x=5555 vbs knows it's a integer.

answered Jul 11, 2018 at 10:30

CatCat

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2 Comments

aschipfl Over a year ago

So that's what is typically called a Variant data type... Using Dim in VBScripts might improve readability, that's why I'm usually doing it...

CatCat Over a year ago

Still the variant is set to a particular data type. See ecs.syr.edu/faculty/fawcett/Handouts/cse775/presentations/… It used to be an MS paper.

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