Code Error 800A03F2 - Expected Identifier

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Troubleshooting Code 800A03F2 - Expected Identifier

Introduction to Code 800A03F2

When you get Error code 800A03F2 concentrate on the Line: number and especially the Char: number. Once you trace the line and position, you should be able to identify the problem. A wild guess is there is an extra full stop.

The Symptoms you get

The script does not execute as you hoped, instead you get a WSH error message.

The Cause of Error 800A03F2

Your VBScript contain is missing a character. Note: the clue 'Source: Microsoft VBScript compilation error'. My point is that 'compilation error' and not a 'runtime error', means this is a syntax error in your script.

Another cause is because VBS does not support the Optional statement for Subs and Functions. See example 3.

The Solution to Expected Identifier

This is a syntax error, therefore check for a missing argument. In my example, Windows Scripting Host is telling us that the problem is at Line: 3, count blank lines and lines with remarks. In this case the Char: number (73), is very useful in tracing the error. Something is wrong with the syntax at the end of the line 3.

Example 1 of Code 800A03F2 error

Note: The Line: 6 Char 34 , .T.)

It should be , True)

DIM fso, gf
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set gf = fso.CreateTextfile("e:\Ezine\Scripts\ezine12\guyfileb.txt", .T.)
gf.WriteLine("hello guy 1, 2, 3.")
gf.WriteBlankLines 2
gf.Write ("This is a test.")
gf.Close

Example 2 of Code 800A03F2 error

WScript.Echo strDriveLetter & " drive is mapped to " & strUncPath.

Here is the tiniest of errors, an unwanted full stop (period) after strUncPath.

' BudgetPear.vbs
' Script to map the Budget share on the server pear
' Version 1.1 August 2004
' Guy Thomas http://computerperformance.co.uk

Option Explicit
Dim objNetwork
Dim strDriveLetter, strUncPath
strDriveLetter = "R:"
strUncPath = "\\alan\backup"

Set objNetwork = CreateObject("Wscript.Network")
objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive strDriveLetter, strUncPath
WScript.Echo strDriveLetter & " drive is mapped to " & strUncPath.
WScript.Quit

' End of Guy's Error 800A03F2 script

Example 3 Optional Statement Problem

Kindly sent in by Robert Dunham

Here, the 800A03F2 is raised because VBS does not support the Optional statement for Subs and Functions and was expecting a valid variable name. Here's the code sample:

Call echoComment
Sub echoComment(Optional strComment = "")
If strComment <> "" Then Wscript.Echo strComment End Sub

This error would also be raised for an incorrectly spelled byVal or byRef statement.

While this is very similar to your first example, I wanted to point out that this error can happen during declaration as well. The above example would be very common for those who are used to standard VB programming.

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Do you need extra help?

For interpreting the WSH messages check Diagnose 800 errors.

For general advice try my 7 Troubleshooting techniques

Give something back?

Would you like to help others? If you have a good example of this error, then please email me, I will publish it with a credit to you:

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