Using the Object Browser

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The Object Browser is available in all Microsoft products that contain the Microsoft® Visual Basic® for Applications (VBA) programming environment. The Object Browser makes it possible for you to view all objects, methods, properties, events, and constants of all COM components whose type libraries are referenced by the application you are working with. By default, each Microsoft® Office XP application references a set of type libraries. For example, Word references by default Visual Basic for Applications, Microsoft® Word, OLE automation, and Microsoft® Office XP type libraries.

To manually reference any additional type libraries available on your system

• From the Tools menu in the Visual Basic Editor, click References.

To display the Object Browser

• Open the Visual Basic Editor, and then click Object Browser on the View menu.

The Object Browser

The Project/Library box shows all the available referenced type libraries. These libraries make it possible for you to use early binding with the corresponding applications.

The Search Text box shows any keywords you have searched for by using the drop-down list. You can also type a word in this box, and then click the Search button to search the available libraries for that word. The Search Results list displays any classes, properties, methods, events, or constants that contain the word you searched for.

The Classes list displays all objects and collections in the library, and the Members of list displays all methods, properties, events, and constants associated with the selected object in the Classes list. The bottom pane of the dialog box (the Details pane) displays other information about the currently selected item, such as what kind of object it is, its data type, what arguments it might take, and what library or collection of which the item is a member.

If a Help file has been associated with the objects in the type library, you can display a Help topic by clicking the item in either the Classes or Members of list, and then pressing F1 or clicking the Help button in the upper-right corner of the dialog box.

See Also

Objects, Collections, and Object Models: Technology Backgrounder | Objects Exposed by an Object Model | Collections | Properties and Methods | Events | Using the Object Browser | Working with the Outlook Object Model | Setting References