PRB: Error 459 Trying to Use Alternate Object Interface

You get run-time error 459 "Object or Class does not support the set of elements" when assigning an object of class "A" to an object variable of class "B" in order to use an alternate interface.

The base class you are implementing in your object defines an Event object and your object variables are declared using the WithEvents keyword. The Visual Basic versions listed above do not support events in inherited interfaces.

This is a limitation of the versions of Visual Basic listed above.

This behavior is by design.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a form with a command button and two class modules (Base_Class and Derived_Class).
2. Add the following code to the Base_Class class module:

         Event Alert(ByVal Msg As String)
   
         Public Sub PostAlert(ByVal Msg As String)
         End Sub
   
   						

3. Add the following code to the Derived_Class class module:

         Implements Base_Class
   
         Event Alert(ByVal Msg As String)
   
         Private Sub Base_Class_PostAlert(ByVal Msg As String)
           RaiseEvent Alert(Msg)
         End Sub
   
   						

4. In the form module, add the following code:

         Dim WithEvents objDC As Derived_Class, WithEvents objBC As Base_Class
   
         Sub Command1_Click()
           Set objDC = New Derived_Class
           Set objBC = objDC              ' error 459 occurs on this line
           objBC.PostAlert "Some Message"
           Set objBC = Nothing
           Set objDC = Nothing
         End Sub
   
         Sub DC_Alert(ByVal Msg As String)
           MsgBox Msg
         End Sub
   
   						

Notes:

• If you remove the WithEvents keyword from the objBC variable declaration, the code will run.
• If you remove the Event declaration in the Base_Class class module, the compiler will also require you to remove the WithEvents keyword on the variable declaration, and the code will run.
• If you remove the Event declaration in the Derived_Class class module, you will get a compile error.
• You cannot implement the Derived_Class event handler as a Private event or derived event as you can with methods. For example, either of the following in the Derived_Class class module will result in a compile error:

        Private Event Base_Class_Alert(ByVal Msg As String)
        Event Base_Class_Alert(ByVal Msg As String)