XL97: Error When Function Contains a Breakpoint

ID: Q158687

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
Microsoft Binder 97 for Windows
Microsoft Office 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you type or edit a formula in a worksheet, you may receive the following error message:

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
   If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

If you click Details, you receive an error message similar to one or more of the following:

   EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at
   014f:300960ef.

   BINDER caused an exception 6bfH in module KERNEL32.DLL at
   014f:bff9a080.

When these messages appear, the Microsoft Office 97 programs may close or stop responding.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when all of the following conditions are true:

You edit or type a formula in a Microsoft Excel worksheet that is stored in Microsoft Office Binder 97 or an embedded worksheet in Microsoft Word 97 or Microsoft PowerPoint 97. For example, you type the following formula:
```
      =Test()
```
```
    -and-
```

The formula refers to a custom Visual Basic for Applications function. For example:

      Function Test()
          A = 1
          B = 2
          Test = A + B
      End Function

    -and-

The workbook was saved with a breakpoint set within the custom function.

NOTE: A breakpoint may be set manually by using the Toggle Breakpoint command on the Debug menu or programmatically by using the Stop statement.

WORKAROUND

To prevent this problem from occurring, do not set a breakpoint in the custom function. If you need to pause or break your macro at run-time, use the MsgBox function or the End statement instead.

For more information about the MsgBox function, click the Index tab in Help, type the following text

   msgbox

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "MsgBox function" topic.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

When you set a breakpoint in a custom function, and then type a formula that refers to that function, Microsoft Excel displays the Visual Basic Editor in break mode. You can then step through the macro code by pressing F8, or you can press F5 to continue running the code. You can also set watches and perform other tasks.

In Visual Basic for Applications, use the following steps to set a breakpoint in a custom function or subroutine:

1. Move the insertion point to line of code where you want to set the

   breakpoint.

2. Press F9, or click Toggle Breakpoint on the Debug menu.

The line of code turns a maroon color and a maroon colored dot appears to the left of the code.

NOTE: You can also remove a breakpoint by following the same steps.

When you use a Microsoft Office 97 program that contains an embedded Microsoft Excel 97 workbook, and you type or edit a formula that refers to a custom function containing a breakpoint, Microsoft Excel 97 and the Microsoft Office 97 program may stop responding. Microsoft recommends that you do not set a breakpoint in a custom function when you are working in Microsoft Office Binder 97 or your workbook is embedded in another Microsoft Office 97 program.

Additional query words: XL97 OFF97 break point crash hang

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA offbinder 
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: February 11, 1999