XL5: "Save Changes in <Bookname>" Even If No Changes Made

ID: Q109428

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, when you close a workbook, you may be prompted to save changes to the workbook even if you have not actually made any changes to it. This will occur if your workbook is set to use the Automatic or Automatic Except Tables calculation mode and contains any of the following items:

Formulas that use volatile functions (or formulas that contain links to formulas in other workbooks that use volatile functions)

Linked pictures

Iterative formulas

Charts, either on chart sheets or embedded on worksheets (this applies regardless of the selected calculation mode)

MORE INFORMATION

If your calculation mode is set to Automatic or Automatic Except Tables when you open a workbook, volatile functions, linked pictures, and iterative formulas are automatically recalculated when you open the workbook. This automatic recalculation makes Microsoft Excel think the workbook has been modified. Because of this, you will be prompted to save changes to the workbook when you close it.

Volatile functions in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 include the following:


AREAS()     INDEX()      OFFSET()   TODAY()
CELL()      INDIRECT()   ROWS()
COLUMNS()   NOW()        RAND()

If your workbook contains any of these functions, you will be prompted to save the workbook when you close it.

Because of the way in which charts are handled in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, if you open a workbook that contains a chart of any type, Microsoft Excel will think the workbook has been modified. For this reason, you will always be prompted to save changes to a workbook if it contains any charts.

For more information on volatile functions, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:


   dependent and volatile and function and recalculation

Additional query words: today now recalc recalculate


Keywords          : 
Version           : 5.00 5.00c
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: July 23, 1999