XL97: Cannot Paste Array Formula in Its Original Cell

ID: Q158080

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro in Microsoft Excel 97, 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 97, 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.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.


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 F2, and then press ENTER.

    If you receive the error message "You cannot change part of an array" this array formula is entered into multiple cells. Click OK.


  3. 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.


  4. Press F2, then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.


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

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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))", (without quotation marks). The macro applies this formula to the range A1:A10. 

   Sub CopyArrayFormula()
       'stores formula in variable
       xFormula = Range("A1").Formula
       'clears formula from cell
       Range("A1").Clear
       'applies formula
       Range("A1:A10").FormulaArray = xFormula
   End Sub


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 ENTER, you press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

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 97, 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: XL97 8.00 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbprg kbualink97 kbdta KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: July 2, 1999