Microsoft KB Archive/87287

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Excel: Crosstab Fails If Field Name Left Blank or Is Numeric

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0

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SUMMARY
If you attempt to use Crosstabs in Microsoft Excel with a database that includes a blank field name, you may encounter one of the following problems depending on the version of Microsoft Excel that you are using.

Version of

Microsoft Excel Behavior
4.0a for Windows If your database contains a blank field name or a                  numeric field name, and you choose the Crosstab command from the Data menu, you receive the following error message:

Fieldnames must not be numeric or blank

4.0 for Windows  If you choose a field with a blank field name or a                  numeric field name as one of the value fields, the Crosstab ReportWizard returns the following error message:

No data records retrieved

                 The crosstab report is not created.

4.0 for the      When you choose the Create a New Crosstab button Macintosh        in the Crosstab Wizard dialog box, you receive the following error message:

Fieldnames must not be numeric or blank

3.0 for both     When you choose Crosstab from the Data menu, you Windows and      receive the following error message: Macintosh

Database cannot contain blank fieldnames

                 The crosstab report is not created.

NOTE: Even if you enter field names are entered in the form &quot;=1992&quot;, the Crosstab command will fail.

MORE INFORMATION
The CROSSTAB.XLA file (Crosstabs) is an add-in supplied with Microsoft Excel that creates a cross tabulation table of database information.