Microsoft KB Archive/118320

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

ECHO Command Doesn't Work Correctly with ACTIVATE Command
Last reviewed: March 31, 1997

Article ID: Q118320

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 5.0a

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, the ECHO macro function controls screen updating while a macro is running. This command is usually used to speed up large macros that update the screen frequently. If the ACTIVATE macro function is used to activate a worksheet window, and if you have previously turned off screen updating with an ECHO(FALSE) command, the worksheet window will be displayed and you will not see the contents of the window being activated.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
The ECHO(FALSE) macro command is used to prevent screen updating of the Microsoft Excel workspace area. In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, a window's contents is not updated or displayed on the screen when screen updating is turned off, but the actual window itself is displayed if you use an ACTIVATE function in your macro.

The expected behavior is that the worksheet window will not be displayed on the screen. This behavior is specific to Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh and does not apply to Microsoft Excel for Windows.