Microsoft KB Archive/101433

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

Can't Define Name for Formula with OFFSET and INDIRECT
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996

Article ID: Q101433

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0,4.0a
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, if you define a name that refers to a formula that contains the INDIRECT and OFFSET functions, a general protection (GP) fault may occur. If you are using Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, your machine may hang and no error message will be displayed. At this point you will have to restart the machine.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION
This error occurs when you define a name that refers to a reference as in the following example:

=INDIRECT(OFFSET(J10,-6,0):OFFSET(J10,-1,0)) This formula is not unique. Using other cell references or values within the OFFSET function may also produce a GP fault, often at an address in the 0033:xxxx range.