XL97: "Cannot Quit" After Using Visual Basic Editor

ID: Q172261

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you quit Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive the following error message:

   Cannot quit Microsoft Excel.

You are unable to quit Microsoft Excel 97.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you attempt to quit Microsoft Excel 97 after performing either of the following actions:

You press F8 when the pointer is not inside a subroutine or a function.
```
    -or-
```
You press F8 when the pointer is in an empty Visual Basic module.

NOTE: If you subsequently run a Visual Basic macro or subroutine, the problem does not occur.

WORKAROUND

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:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

If this problem occurs, run a Visual Basic subroutine. To run a subroutine, use either of the following methods:

In a Visual Basic module, place the cursor inside an existing subroutine, or type a new subroutine. Then, press F5 twice to run the subroutine.
NOTE: If you use a new subroutine, it is recommended that you use a subroutine similar to the following:
```
      Sub Test()
          MsgBox "This is a test."
      End Sub

    -or-
```
In Microsoft Excel 97, point to Macro on the Tools menu and click Macros. Then, click the name of a macro and click Run. Press F5 again to run the subroutine.

After you run a subroutine, you can quit Microsoft Excel 97.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Normally, if you press F8 when the Visual Basic Editor is active, the selected subroutine or function is run in "step into" mode. When you run a macro in this mode, you can execute one line of code at a time by pressing F8 repeatedly. You can exit step into mode by pressing F5. The Visual Basic Editor also automatically exits Step Into mode when a macro is completed.

If you press F8 when the pointer is not inside a subroutine or function, Microsoft Excel 97 enters step into mode; however, no macro is active. As a result, even though no macro is running, Microsoft Excel 97 behaves as through a macro is running. When this behavior occurs, you cannot quit Microsoft Excel 97.

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode xlvbainfo KbVBA 
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999