XL97: Page Fault Pasting Array Formula Between Workbooks

ID: Q171026

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you copy a range of cells from one workbook and paste the copied cells into another workbook, 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 the following:

   EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at
   0137:3011fd8b.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you copy a range of cells that contain an array formula, and then paste the copied cells into another workbook that contains the same array formula in one of its worksheets.

For example, this problem occurs when Book1 and Book2 contain the following array formulas:

   Book1                       Book2
      Sheet1                      Sheet3
         A1: {=Sheet2!A1:A2}         B4: {=Sheet2!A1:A2}
         A2: {=Sheet2!A1:A2}         B5: {=Sheet2!A1:A2}

Note that both workbooks contain the same array formula, =Sheet2!A1:A2. It does not matter that the formulas are in different worksheets or cells within each workbook.

If you copy cells B4:B5 in Sheet3 of Book2, and then paste them anywhere in Book1, the problem occurs because Book1 contains the same formula.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do not copy and paste array formulas, such as those described in this article, between workbooks in Microsoft Excel 97.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, Service Release 1.

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords          : kberrmsg
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: November 4, 1998