Microsoft KB Archive/239764

= XL97: Calculate Message Remains in Status Bar If 65,536 Formula References =

PSS ID Number: 239764

Article Last Modified on 8/6/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

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This article was previously published under Q239764



For a Microsoft Excel 2000 and later version of this article, see 243495.



SYMPTOMS
When you enter formulas that include cell references, the "Calculate" message may remain in the status bar. Also, a damaged workbook may cause incomplete calculations that make the "Calculate" message appear.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs when there are 65,536 or more dependencies to unique references (the level or number of links between formulas).

NOTE: If the Iteration option is turned on, circular references also cause the "Calculate" message to remain in the status bar.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft Excel calculates during different events like column auto-resizing, when entering anything in any cell, and so forth. However, Excel can only track 65,536 dependencies to unique references for automatic calculation.

After the workbook has passed this limit, Excel no longer attempts to recalculate only changed cells. Instead, it recalculates all cells after each change. This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft Excel will correctly calculate all formulas. However, the "Calculate" message in the status bar indicates that Microsoft Excel can no longer track the formula dependencies and is calculating every formula in the workbook after each change. If you are unsure when the last calculation event took place and you want to be sure your formulas are up to date, simply start a calculation manually. To do this, press CTRL+ALT+F9 and wait until "Calculating Cells: %" disappears and "Calculate" returns to the status bar.

Additional query words: XL97 64K 64 K

Keywords: kbprb KB239764

Technology: kbExcel97Search kbExcelSearch kbExcelWinSearch kbZNotKeyword3

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