Microsoft KB Archive/119377

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XL5: GP Fault Evaluating INDIRECT in Defined Name on Chart

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, if you open a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 chart file, and the chart has a reference that contains the INDIRECT function in a defined name, you receive a general protection (GP) fault if you evaluate the reference in the formula bar.

CAUSE
When you open a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 file that contains a defined name, the name is defined as a global name, rather than a local name. If the name contains the INDIRECT function, and the reference in the function does not contain the worksheet name, the INDIRECT function evaluates the reference on the current sheet.

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, when you open a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 chart, or if you activate a chart contained in a version 4.0 workbook, and a reference on the chart contains the INDIRECT function, you receive the following error message:

External reference is not valid

Note that this same error message appears if you create a chart in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, and then reference a defined name that contains the INDIRECT function.

If you evaluate the reference to the defined name that contains the INDIRECT function on the chart sheet, by selecting the reference, and pressing F9, you receive a GP fault.

WORKAROUNDS
To avoid receiving a GP fault when you evaluate a reference to a defined name that contains the INDIRECT formula, include the sheet name in the INDIRECT function. For example, use

  =INDIRECT("Sheet1!$A$1") instead of:

  =INDIRECT("$A$1")

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 5.0c.

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0c, you still receive the "External reference is not valid" error message when you activate the chart sheet. However, when you evaluate the reference on the chart, you do not receive a GP fault. Instead, the reference evaluates to the #REF! Error value.