"Pattern Match expression not valid" error for .Execute FindText

Question

Here is the code which was working yesterday:

Sub TestError()

Dim Error As Integer

    With Selection.Find
      .ClearFormatting
      .Font.Bold = True
      .Execute FindText:="Error! Reference source not found."

        If .Found = True Then
           Error = MsgBox("Reference Source error detected - continue with macro?", 4)
              If Error = 7 Then
              Exit Sub
             End If
         End If

    End With

End Sub

It should search for "Error! Reference source not found.", and if the document contains that string then it should throw a warning and ask the user if they want to continue.

Worked yesterday, now it's throwing

"The Find What text contains a Pattern Match expression which is not valid"

on .Execute FindText.

Usually this error comes from something like a wildcard search with an unclosed set of brackets or something.

(I have tried turning it off and on.)

macropod macropod · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-20T11:45:04

The problem is most likely that you've previously done a wildcard Find and have not re-set that (despite what you say to the contrary):

Sub TestError()
Dim Error As Long
With Selection.Find
  .ClearFormatting
  .Font.Bold = True
  .MatchWildcards = False
  .Text = "Error! Reference source not found."
  .Execute
  If .Found = True Then
    Error = MsgBox("Reference Source error detected - continue with macro?", 4)
    If Error = 7 Then Exit Sub
  End If
End With
End Sub

"Pattern Match expression not valid" error for .Execute FindText

1 Answers