XL5: GP Fault If REFTEXT() Refers to Closed Workbook

ID: Q110595

5.00 WINDOWS BUGLIST5.00 fixlist5.00c

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, when you use the REFTEXT() function in a Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet, and the reference includes the name of a closed workbook, you receive a general protection (GP) fault.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 5.0c.

WORKAROUND

To avoid receiving the GP fault when you use the REFTEXT() function and the reference contains a workbook name, do the following:

1. Before you type the function in the macro, open the workbook you want to 

   reference in the REFTEXT() function.
2. Before you run your macro, do either of the following : 

   - Insert a command in your macro that opens the workbook before the
     REFTEXT() function runs.

     -or-

   - Manually open the workbook before running the macro.
To convert a reference to a reference in the form of text, you can use the following Microsoft Visual Basic Programming System, Applications Edition functions: 

   ' Converts name on a workbook to reference in text form,
   ' where file$ is name of workbook containing name
   ' and ref$ is name to return reference for
   Function GetNameVal(file$, ref$)
      GetNameVal = GetObject(file$, "Excel.Sheet").Parent.Names(ref$)
   End Function

   ' Converts range reference to text
   ' file$ is name of workbook containing range
   ' sheet$ is name of worksheet containing range
   ' ref$ is range reference to convert to text
   Function GetRangeVal(file$,sheet$,ref$)
      GetRangeVal = _
   GetObject(file$,"Excel.Sheet").Parent.Sheets(sheet$).Range(ref$).Address
   End Function
Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic procedures 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 Visual Basic procedure is provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that it can be used in all situations. Microsoft does not support modifications of this procedure to suit customer requirements for a particular purpose. Note that a line that is preceded by an apostrophe introduces a comment in the code--comments are provided to explain what the code is doing at a particular point in the procedure. Note also that an underscore character (_) indicates that code continues from one line to the next. You can type lines that contain this character as one logical line or you can divide the lines of code and include the line continuation character. For more information about Visual Basic for Applications programming style, see the "Programming Style in This Manual" section in the "Document Conventions" section of the "Visual Basic User's Guide.

MORE INFORMATION

The REFTEXT() function converts a reference to an absolute reference in the form of text and is useful when you need to manipulate references with text functions. This function uses the following syntax 

   REFTEXT(reference, a1)
where reference is the reference you want to convert. When you type this command in your macro and press ENTER, or when you run a macro that contains this command, you receive a GP fault if the reference argument contains the name of a closed workbook.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Address Method, choose the Search button in Help and type: 

    Address Method
For more information about the Name Object, choose the Search button in Help and type: 

    Name Object
KBCategory: kbprb KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 

Version           : 5.00
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: September 14, 1996