How to Fix VBA ‘Named Argument Not Found’ in 3 Minutes (Excel)

Written by Kasper Langmann

The Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error is a common issue that Excel users encounter. It typically arises when a named argument in a function or procedure is not recognized. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as a typo in the argument name, a missing library, or a change in the function or procedure’s parameters. Fixing this error is crucial to ensure the smooth running of your Excel VBA projects. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve this error in just three minutes.

Understanding the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ Error

The ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error in VBA is a compile error, meaning it occurs when VBA tries to compile and run your code. This error is triggered when VBA encounters a named argument in a function or procedure call that it does not recognize. A named argument is an argument that is passed to a function or procedure by name, rather than by position.

For example, consider a function ‘Calculate’ that takes two arguments: ‘Value1’ and ‘Value2’. If you call this function with a named argument that is not ‘Value1’ or ‘Value2’, VBA will throw the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error.

Understanding the cause of this error is the first step towards resolving it. It allows you to identify the problematic part of your code and apply the appropriate fix.

Common Causes of the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ Error

There are several reasons why you might encounter the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error in VBA. Here are the most common causes:

Typo in the Argument Name

One of the most common causes of this error is a simple typo in the argument name. If the argument name in your function or procedure call does not exactly match the argument name in the function or procedure definition, VBA will not recognize it and will throw the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error.

For example, if you call the ‘Calculate’ function with the named argument ‘Value3’ instead of ‘Value2’, VBA will not recognize ‘Value3’ as a valid argument and will throw the error.

Missing Library

Another common cause of this error is a missing library. If your VBA project uses a function or procedure from an external library, and that library is not referenced in your project, VBA will not recognize the function or procedure and will throw the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error.

For example, if your project uses the ‘Calculate’ function from the ‘Math’ library, and the ‘Math’ library is not referenced in your project, VBA will not recognize the ‘Calculate’ function and will throw the error.

Change in Function or Procedure Parameters

A change in the parameters of a function or procedure can also trigger this error. If a function or procedure is updated and its parameters change, any calls to that function or procedure with the old parameters will result in the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error.

For example, if the ‘Calculate’ function is updated to take only one argument ‘Value1’, any calls to ‘Calculate’ with two arguments will result in the error.

How to Fix the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ Error

Now that we understand the common causes of the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error, let’s look at how to fix it. Here are the steps you can follow:

Check for Typos

The first step in resolving this error is to check for typos in your argument names. Make sure that the argument names in your function or procedure calls exactly match the argument names in the function or procedure definitions.

If you find a typo, correct it and try running your code again. If the error persists, move on to the next step.

Check for Missing Libraries

If there are no typos in your argument names, the next step is to check for missing libraries. Go to the ‘Tools’ menu in the VBA editor, select ‘References’, and make sure that all the libraries used in your project are referenced.

If you find a missing library, add it to your project and try running your code again. If the error persists, move on to the next step.

Check for Changes in Function or Procedure Parameters

If there are no typos in your argument names and no missing libraries, the final step is to check for changes in the parameters of your functions or procedures. Make sure that the parameters in your function or procedure calls match the parameters in the function or procedure definitions.

If you find a discrepancy, update your function or procedure calls to match the new parameters and try running your code again. This should resolve the ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error.

Conclusion

The ‘Named Argument Not Found’ error in VBA can be a nuisance, but it is relatively easy to fix once you understand its causes. By checking for typos in your argument names, missing libraries, and changes in function or procedure parameters, you can quickly identify and resolve this error.

Remember, the key to avoiding this error in the future is to always ensure that your function or procedure calls match the function or procedure definitions exactly. This includes the argument names, the number and order of arguments, and the referenced libraries.