An Automation error occurs after a long COM call

If the following conditions exist, Visio may increase CPU usage, and eventually fault or generate an Automation (RPC) error:

1. Visio is in a synchronous COM call to an out-of-process server from a VBA macro or event.
2. The server takes a long time to respond. For example, 3-30 minutes.
3. The server tries to call back to Visio before the server returns from the synchronous call.

When Visio receives various events such as WM_ONACTIVATE from the operating system or programs, Visio times events that are implemented to refresh the state of Visio and the supporting components. These timed Visio tasks interfered with critical code path execution in the support components that Visio uses, and placed the Microsoft Visual Basic ActiveX control into the state where the critical failure would occur. The fix in this article makes a change to timed task so that they only start when Visio is handling idle events. These changes prevent Visio from interrupting this critical code execution.

Service pack information

This problem is corrected in Microsoft Visio 2002 Service Pack 2.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Visio 2002. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.
If you are using Microsoft Windows 2000, you must obtain and install Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3), or obtain the fix in 324034.

For additional information about how to obtain the fix in 324034, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
The global version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
This problem was first corrected in Visio 2002 Service Pack 2.