ID: Q172760
The information in this article applies to:
When you enter a formula that calls a custom function, the formula may return an incorrect result when you recalculate the worksheet. The formula returns the correct result only when you select the cell that contains the formula and then recalculate the worksheet. When you do this, other formulas that call the same custom function return the same result.
This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:
-and-
in this article.
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:
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Function Test()
Application.Volatile
' Returns the cell one column to the left of the active cell. Note
' that the active cell is not necessarily the cell that is calling
' the function.
Test = ActiveCell.Offset(0, -1).Value
End Function
Function Test()
Application.Volatile
' Returns the cell one column to the left of the cell that is
' actually calling the function.
Test = Application.Caller.Offset(0, -1).Value
End Function
This behavior is by design of the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article.
When you use the ActiveCell property in a custom function in Microsoft Excel, the property returns the cell that is currently active. This is true even if the custom function is called by a formula in a worksheet cell.
The Caller property of the Application object returns the object that calls the function, regardless of the cell or worksheet that is active.
To demonstrate the problem described in this article, follow these steps:
1. In Microsoft Excel, create a new workbook.
2. In Sheet1 of the new workbook, enter the following values:
A1: 1
A2: 2
A3: 3
A4: 4
A5: 5
Excel 98, first activate the Visual Basic Editor by pressing ALT+F11.)
Type the following code into the new module:
Function Test()
Application.Volatile
Test = ActiveCell.Offset(0, -1).Value
End Function
=Test()
Note that the formula returns the value 1. This is the correct value
because the cell that is one column to the left of the active cell (B1)
contains the value 1.
the Edit menu, click Paste, and then press ESC.
Note that all five formulas in B1:B5 return the value 2. This is true
because the cell that is one column to the left of the active cell (B2)
contains the value 2.
All five formulas in B1:B5 return the value 0, because the cell that is
one column to the left of the active cell (D10) contains no value, which
is equivalent to having a value of 0.
one column to the left of the cell that is calling the function, change
the function to the following:
Function Test()
Application.Volatile
Test = Application.Caller.Offset(0, -1).Value
End Function
When you change the function, and then recalculate the worksheet, the
formulas in B1:B5 return the values 1 through 5 no matter what cell or
worksheet is active.
For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
TITLE : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic
for Applications
Keywords : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode xlformula KbVBA
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98; WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprbLast Reviewed: May 18, 1999