How to Replace AFormAut with Acrobat XI Library in Excel VBA
Question details
The user needs to find the equivalent Adobe Acrobat XI library or DLL to replace the AFormAut library previously used in Acrobat Pro 9 for an Excel VBA application.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel and Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading an Excel VBA application's PDF automation capabilities from Acrobat Pro 9 to Acrobat Pro XI.
- Observed behavior
- The Excel VBA code cannot execute because the older AFormAut reference is broken or missing in the Acrobat XI environment.
Before modifying your VBA code, ensure that Adobe Acrobat Pro XI is fully installed on your system and that you have saved a backup copy of your Excel workbook.
Update the Acrobat Type Library Reference in the VBA Editor
Remove the missing Acrobat 9 reference and select the registered Acrobat XI library to restore automation functionality.
Acrobat automation libraries vary by the specific product version installed. Because the AFormAut file from Acrobat 9 is not natively present in Acrobat XI, you must manually point your VBA project to the updated type libraries registered during the Acrobat XI installation.
Launch Microsoft Excel, open your workbook, and press 'ALT + F11' to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor.
In the top menu bar of the VBA editor, click on 'Tools' and then select 'References' from the dropdown menu to open the References dialog box.
Scroll through the list of available references and uncheck any items that start with 'MISSING:', specifically looking for 'MISSING: AFormAut' or Acrobat 9 related entries.
Scroll down to the 'A' section and check the box next to 'Acrobat' or 'Adobe Acrobat 10.0 Type Library' (Acrobat XI often registers under this or similar names). Depending on your script's needs, you might also need the 'Acrobat Access 3.0 Type Library'.
Click 'OK' to save your new references. Go to the 'Debug' menu and click 'Compile VBAProject' to ensure the new library supports your existing automation code.
Try WPS Office for Seamless VBA and PDF Integration
If you are tired of dealing with third-party library conflicts and complex PDF automation setups in Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It offers an all-in-one suite with a built-in PDF toolkit and excellent VBA macro support.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the software.
- 3. Open Your VBA Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsm files to start using your macros in a stable environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my VBA project show a 'MISSING: AFormAut' error?
This error appears when a VBA project created on a computer with Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 is opened on a computer that either lacks Acrobat Pro 9 or has a newer version (like Acrobat XI) installed. The specific file 'AFormAut' cannot be found by the system, so the reference must be manually updated to the new version's library.
Can I copy the AFormAut DLL from Acrobat 9 to Acrobat XI?
It is not recommended. Copying older DLL files into newer installations can cause system instability and registration errors. It is safer to update your VBA code to utilize the native type libraries included with Acrobat XI.
Where are the Adobe Acrobat XI type libraries located?
By default on a Windows system, the primary Acrobat type library files (like acrobat.tlb) are usually located in the 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 11.0\Acrobat\' directory, though you rarely need to browse for them manually if Acrobat XI is installed and registered correctly.
Does WPS Spreadsheet support executing VBA macros?
Yes, WPS Office provides strong support for VBA macros. You can run most traditional Excel VBA scripts smoothly by ensuring the VBA module is enabled in your WPS Office installation.
