Microsoft KB Archive/87630

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Last reviewed: October 7, 1997

Article ID: Q87630

The information in this article applies to:
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0

SUMMARY
In certain cases, array formulas on worksheets created in Microsoft Excel, version 3.0 may cause a General Protection (GP) Fault or an Unrecoverable Application Error (UAE) when loaded into version 4.0. The only way to load the sheet successfully is to set Calculation to Manual before you open it. Once the sheet is open, it must either be restructured or the formulas must be rebuilt without using arrays.

MORE INFORMATION
This problem occurs when complex array formulas attempt to calculate before its arguments have been calculated. One workaround is to rebuild the spreadsheet so that formulas only reference areas above and to the left of the formula cell. A more straightforward solution is to dismantle the array formulas, rewrite the initial formula using relative references, and use Edit Fill Right or Fill Down to copy the formula to the appropriate cells.

For example, to replace an array formula of =$B$1:$B$5 entered in cells A1:A5:


 * 1) Click cell A1.
 * 2) Hit the BACKSPACE key and press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. This will clear the array formula in cells A1:A5.
 * 3) Type =B1 into cell A1.
 * 4) Select A1:A5 and choose Fill Down from the Edit menu.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 4.0a. For more information on replacing array formulas within a spreadsheet, call Microsoft Product Support at (425) 635-7070.