XL97: Copy Method of Sheets Object Causes Invalid Page Fault

ID: Q177634

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you programmatically add sheets to a workbook, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Windows 95

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

   EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module MSO97.DLL at
   0137:30705766.

      -or-

   EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at
   015f:3023ab75

Windows NT

   An application error has occurred and an application log is being
   generated.

      EXCEL.exe
   Exception: access violation(0xc0000005), Address: 0x307de830

   -or-

   Run-time error '1004':
   Copy method of Worksheet class failed

CAUSE

This problem may occur when you use a looping statement to copy a worksheet over and over. For an example of this problem, please see the "More Information" section of this article.

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/

 Sub Copy Sheets()

    For x = 1 To 300
        Sheets.Add
        Workbooks("YourWorkBook.xls").Sheets("sheet1").Cells.Copy
        ActiveSheet.Paste
        Workbooks("YourWorkBook.xls").Sheets("sheet1").Select
    Next x

 End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem occurs because each time you copy the same sheet a codename is assigned to the copy, and each time the sheet is copied, that codename becomes longer. For example, if you copy sheet1 once, the codename assigned to the sheet is sheet11. When you copy the sheet again, it is assigned sheet111, and so on. The codename has a maximum number of about 35 characters. When this limit is reached, Excel stops responding.

Example of the problem

NOTE: This example may cause Excel to stop responding. Please use with discretion.

1. Start Microsoft Excel 97.

2. Press ALT+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.

3. On the Insert menu, click Module.

4. Type the following into the new module sheet:

      Sub test()
         For x = 1 To 300
            ActiveSheet.Copy before:=Sheets(1)
            Sheets(1).Select
         Next x
      End Sub

6. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Select test

   and then click Run.

REFERENCES

For more information about the CodeName property, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "CodeName property" click Search, and then click to view "CodeName property."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999