XL: Cannot Use Array of Data Points with Extend Method

ID: Q172114

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, the Help topic for the Extend method states that the Source argument may be either a Range object or an array of data points. This information is incorrect; the Source argument must be a Range object.

If you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro that attempts to use an array of data points for the Source argument of the Extend method, you receive the following error message:

   Run-time error '1004':
   Reference is not valid.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, you can use the Extend method to add new data points to an existing series in a chart. For example, if you create a simple column chart that contains a single series, and you want to add new data points to the series, you can use a line of code similar to the following:

   ActiveChart.SeriesCollection.Extend Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("B5:B6")

This line of code adds the values in cells B5:B6 in Sheet1 to the chart.

If you specify an array of data points for the Source argument of the Extend method, you receive an error message. For example, the following sample code causes the problem:

   Dim xExtras
   xExtras = Array(2, 3, 5, 7)
   ActiveChart.SeriesCollection.Extend xExtras

The problem occurs because xExtras refers to an array of data points, not to a Range object.

Additional query words: XL5 XL7 XL97

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA xlchart xlhelp 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: December 10, 1998