VBA & Macro Problems

Fix Word COM Exception When Automating a VBA Macro With Python

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve a COM exception that occurs when running a Python script to automate a Microsoft Word VBA macro.

Product: Microsoft Word, Python
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating a Word VBA macro via a Python script in order to concatenate multiple DOCX files into one document.
Observed behavior: The Python automation script fails and throws a COM exception, even though the exact same VBA macro runs successfully when executed manually inside Microsoft Word.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative privileges to run Python scripts and verify that your system paths are accessible by external automation tools.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify and Add Absolute Drive Paths to FolderPath

Use this solution to ensure that external automation tools can locate the correct working directories, as relative paths often fail over COM.

When running a macro from inside Word, the default working directory is already established. However, when automating via Python, the COM environment may lack this context, causing the script to fail if only a relative path is provided.

Locate the FolderPath variable

Open your Python script or the VBA macro code and find where the target directory for the DOCX files is defined.

Add the absolute drive letter

Modify the path string to include the complete absolute path, starting with the explicit drive letter (e.g., change 'Documents\Files' to 'C:\Users\Username\Documents\Files').

Test path accessibility

Save the changes and rerun the Python automation script to verify that the COM exception is resolved.

Solution 2

Correct Encoded HTML Entities in the VBA Code

Fix syntax errors caused by copying code from forums, which can introduce HTML encoded characters that trigger exceptions during remote execution.

Solution 3

Enable Trust Access to the VBA Project Object Model

Adjust Microsoft Word's macro security settings to allow external tools like Python to interface with the VBA environment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my VBA macro work in Word but fail when automated with Python?

When Python accesses Word via COM automation, it runs in a different environmental context. Issues like missing absolute paths, strict macro security restrictions, or syntax anomalies (like HTML encoded characters) often trigger exceptions during remote execution, even if Word ignores them locally.

How do I fix an invalid path error during Word COM automation?

Ensure that any file paths passed through your Python script or defined within the VBA macro include the full absolute path, complete with the correct drive letter (e.g., 'C:\'). Relative paths often fail in COM automation.

How can I check for encoded characters in my copied macro code?

Open the VBA editor in Word by pressing ALT + F11. Review your script for HTML entities such as '&' or '<'. If found, manually replace them with their standard VBA operator equivalents like '&' and '<'.

Does WPS Office support VBA macros?

Yes, advanced versions of the WPS Office suite include built-in VBA support, allowing you to run and edit macros smoothly while maintaining excellent compatibility with standard Microsoft Office VBA scripts.

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