Object variable or With block variable not set (Error 91)

The Problem (Q-score 5, ranked #92nd of 95 in the VBA Core archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2013

I have the following code:

Sub AddSources()
    Dim pubPage As Page
    Dim pubShape As Shape
    Dim hprlink As Hyperlink
    Dim origAddress() As String
    Dim exportFileName As String
    exportFileName = "TestResume"
    Dim linkSource As String
    linkSource = "TestSource2"
    Dim hyperLinkText As TextRange



    For Each pubPage In ActiveDocument.Pages
        For Each pubShape In pubPage.Shapes
            If pubShape.Type = pbTextFrame Then
                For Each hprlink In pubShape.TextFrame.TextRange.Hyperlinks
                    If InStr(hprlink.Address, "http://bleaney.ca") > 0 Then
                        hyperLinkText = hprlink.Range
                        origAddress = Split(hprlink.Address, "?source=")
                        hprlink.Address = origAddress(0) + "?source=" + linkSource
                        hprlink.Range = hyperLinkText
                    End If
                Next hprlink
            End If
        Next pubShape
    Next pubPage
    ThisDocument.ExportAsFixedFormat pbFixedFormatTypePDF, "C:" + exportFileName + ".pdf"
End Sub

I am getting the “Object variable or With block variable not set (Error 91)” error on the line with hyperLinkText = hprlink.Range. When I debug I can see that hprlink.Range does have a value. Any thoughts what I’m doing wrong?

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 95 VBA Core entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds niche answer (below median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.

The Verified Solution — niche answer (below median) (+6)

Verbal answer — walkthrough without a code block

Note: the verified answer is a prose walkthrough. If you need a runnable sample, check VBA Core entries ranked in the top 10 of the same archive.

As I wrote in my comment, the solution to your problem is to write the following:

Set hyperLinkText = hprlink.Range

Set is needed because TextRange is a class, so hyperLinkText is an object; as such, if you want to assign it, you need to make it point to the actual object that you need.

When to Use It — classic (2013–2016)

Ranked #92nd in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 95% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the VBA Core archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2013 and 2026

The answer is 13 years old. The VBA Core object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.