Bad record length (Error 59)

The length of a record variable in a Get or Put statement must be the length specified in its corresponding Open statement. This error has the following causes and solutions:

  • The record variable's length differs from the length specified in the corresponding Open statement. Make sure the sum of the sizes of fixed-length variables in the user-defined type defining the record variable's type is the same as the value stated in the Open statement's Len clause. In the following example, assume RecVar is a variable of the appropriate type. Use the Len function to specify the length, as follows:

    Open MyFile As #1 Len = Len(RecVar) 
    
    
  • The variable in a Put statement is (or includes) a variable-length string. Because a 2-byte descriptor is always added to a variable-length string placed in a random access file with Put, the variable-length string must be at least 2 characters shorter than the record length specified in the Len clause of the Open statement.

  • The variable in a Put statement is (or includes) a Variant. Like variable-length strings, Variant data types also require a 2-byte descriptor. Variants containing variable-length strings require a 4-byte descriptor. Therefore, for variable-length strings in a Variant, the string must be at least 4 bytes shorter than the record length specified in the Len clause.

For additional information, select the item in question and press F1 (in Windows) or HELP (on the Macintosh).

Support and feedback

Have questions or feedback about Office VBA or this documentation? Please see Office VBA support and feedback for guidance about the ways you can receive support and provide feedback.