Microsoft KB Archive/81059

Knowledge Base

Err Msg: "! Invalid Character Setting" in Expression Field

Article ID: 81059

Article Last Modified on 11/16/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Word 2.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Word 2.0a
• Microsoft Office Word 2003
• Microsoft Word 2.0c
• Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Word 6.0a
• Microsoft Word 6.0c
• Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Word 95a
• Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q81059

SYMPTOMS

You receive the following error as the result of a Word Expression field:

! Invalid Character Setting

CAUSE

You specified an incorrect character as a decimal or list separator in Regional Settings (International in Windows 3.x) in the Windows Control Panel.

The characters you use for a list separator and decimal separator are set for all Windows-based applications under the Regional Settings or International icons in the Windows Control Panel. The characters used by default depend on the Country settings you select. Some characters are invalid as list or decimal separators. The invalid characters vary depending on the country setting. For example, when you set the Country to United States, any character other than a period is invalid as a decimal separator.

Note: This error may also occur as the result of an incorrect or blank Currency Format or Number Format setting.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, choose the appropriate method depending on which operating system you are using.

Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0

1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Regional Settings icon and then click the Number tab.
3. In the Decimal Symbol box, type a valid character. For example, if the country is set to United States, type a period.
4. In the List Separator box, type a valid character. For example, if the country is set to United States, type a comma.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click OK.

Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups 3.x, Windows NT 3.5x

1. In Windows Program Manager, double-click the Main icon.
2. Double-click the Control Panel.
3. Double-click the International icon.
4. In the List Separator box, type a valid character. For example, if the country is set to United States, type a comma.
5. In the Number Format box, click the Change button. In the Decimal Separator box, type a valid character. For example, if the country is set to United States, type a period.
6. Click OK.
7. Click OK again.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Windows User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 182, 186 "Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 306-311, 749

Additional query words: 2.0 errmsg err msg calculate sum 6.0 winword 7.0 word95 winword2 calculation calculating word7 word6 spreadsheet table results ntword wordnt word97 word8 8.0

Keywords: kbtable KB81059

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