VBA Error 1004 – Application-Defined or Object-Defined Error

This tutorial will explain the VBA Error 1004- Application-Defined or Object-Defined Error.

VBA run-time error 1004 is known as an Application-Defined or Object-Defined error which occurs while the code is running. Making coding errors (See our Error Handling Guide) is an unavoidable aspect learning VBA but knowing why an error occurs helps you to avoid making errors in future coding.

VBA Error 1004 – Object does not exist

If we are referring to an object in our code such as a Range Name that has not been defined, then this error can occur as the VBA code will be unable to find the name.

Sub CopyRange()
  Dim CopyFrom As Range
  Dim CopyTo As Range
  Set CopyFrom = Sheets(1).Range("CopyFrom")
  Set CopyTo = Sheets(1).Range("CopyTo")
  CopyFrom.Copy
CopyTo.PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
End Sub

The example above will copy the values from the named range “CopyFrom” to the named range “CopyTo” – on condition of course that these are existing named ranges!  If they do not exist, then the Error 1004 will display.

The simplest way to avoid this error in the example above is to create the range names in the Excel workbook, or refer to the range in the traditional row and column format eg: Range(“A1:A10”).

VBA Error 1004 – Name Already Taken

The error can also occur if you are trying to rename an object to an object that already exists – for example if we are trying to rename Sheet1 but the name you are giving the sheet is already the name of another sheet.

Sub NameWorksheet()
  ActiveSheet.Name = "Sheet2"
End Sub

If we already have a Sheet2, then the error will occur.

VBA Error 1004 – Incorrectly Referencing an Object

The error can also occur when you have incorrectly referenced an object in your code. For example:

Sub CopyRange()
  Dim CopyFrom As Range
  Dim CopyTo As Range
  Set CopyFrom = Range("A1:A10")
  Set CopyTo = Range("C1:C10")
  Range(CopyFrom).Copy
  Range(CopyTo).PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
End Sub

This will once again give us the Error 10004

Correct the code, and the error will no longer be shown.

Sub CopyRange()
  Dim CopyFrom As Range
  Dim CopyTo As Range
  Set CopyFrom = Range("A1:A10")
  Set CopyTo = Range("C1:C10")
  CopyFrom.Copy
  CopyTo.PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
End Sub

VBA Error 1004 – Object Not Found

This error can also occur when we are trying to open a workbook and the workbook is not found – the workbook in this instance being the object that is not found.

Sub OpenFile()
 Dim wb As Workbook
 Set wb = Workbooks.Open("C:\Data\TestFile.xlsx")
End Sub

Although the message will be different in the error box, the error is still 1004.

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