Microsoft KB Archive/182646

= XL98: Cannot Paste Array Formula in Its Original Cell =

Article ID: 182646

Article Last Modified on 6/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q182646





SYMPTOMS
When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, you may receive the following error message:

Run-time error '1004':

You cannot change part of an array.

Or, when you manually paste a copied cell in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Ediiton, you may receive the following error message:

You cannot change part of an array.



CAUSE
This will occur if you copy (either manually or through a macro) a cell that contains an array formula and then attempt to paste the copied formula into a range of cells that also includes the original cell. For example, you copy cell A1 and then attempt to paste it to cells A1 through A10.



WORKAROUND
If you manually copy and paste a formula that is part of an array, use the following steps to copy and paste the formula without receiving an error message:


 * 1) Select the cell that contains the array formula (for example, cell A1).
 * 2) Press COMMAND+U, and then press RETURN.

If you receive the error message "You cannot change part of an array" this array formula is entered into multiple cells. Click OK.
 * 1) Select the range of cells, including the original cell, into which the array formula should be entered (for example A1:A10). Make sure that the cell that contains the formula is the active cell.
 * 2) Press COMMAND+U, and then press COMMAND+RETURN.

The array formula is now entered into the entire range of cells.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. To prevent this problem from occurring when you copy and paste the formula with a macro, you should perform the following steps in your macro:


 * 1) Read the array formula from the original cell, and store the formula in a variable.
 * 2) Clear the original cell.
 * 3) Apply the stored formula to all of the cells in the range, including the original cell.

The following sample macro demonstrates how to do this. In this example, cell A1 contains the array formula =SUM(IF(B1:B100=0,1,0)). The macro applies this formula to the range A1:A10. Sub CopyArrayFormula1 'stores formula in variable xFormula = Range("A1").Formula 'clears formula from cell Range("A1").Clear 'applies formula Range("A1:A10").FormulaArray = xFormula End Sub



STATUS
This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.



MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel, array formulas are a special type of formula that allow you to perform a large number of calculations in a single cell. When you want to enter a formula as an array formula, instead of just pressing RETURN, you press COMMAND+RETURN.

In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, it is possible for you or a Visual Basic macro to paste a copied array formula in a range of cells that includes the original copied cell.

In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, this will not work unless you first clear the original cell, or convert it into a normal formula. This behavior is actually correct: the behavior of earlier versions of Microsoft Excel is incorrect.

Additional query words: XL98 Run time error 1004 You cannot change part of an array

Keywords: kberrmsg kbnofix kbprb kbdtacode KB182646

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