Excel: Available Memory Reduced when Using Embedded Graphics

 Last reviewed: November 4, 1994
Article ID: Q93204
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

Under certain circumstances, when you open and close a Microsoft Excel for Windows worksheet that contains one or more embedded graphics, the amount of free memory available to your system will be reduced.

MORE INFORMATION

When a worksheet containing an embedded graphic is closed, the memory reserved on the Microsoft Excel worksheet for that graphic is not returned to the system as long as Microsoft Excel remains open. Therefore, in any one Microsoft Excel session, the amount of available memory is significantly reduced if you open and close several Microsoft Excel files that contain embedded graphics.

To identify an embedded graphic, select the object and look at the message in the formula bar. If the formula bar contains the following 

   =EMBED(...)
then the memory reserved for the object will not be returned to the system until you exit Excel.

Workaround

To release the memory being used by an embedded graphic, convert the embedded graphic to a non-embedded graphic:

  1. Select the graphic.

  2. Hold down the SHIFT key and choose Copy Picture from the Edit menu.

  3. In the Copy Picture dialog box, under Appearance, select As Shown On Screen. Under Format, select either Picture or Bitmap.

  4. Choose the OK button.

  5. On the worksheet, select a cell where you want to paste the new image.

  6. From the Edit menu, choose Paste.

  7. Delete the original graphic.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, page 517

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 4.00 lost 3.00 graphical OLE

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Last reviewed: November 4, 1994
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