XL97: Error Dragging Merged Cell Over Another Merged Cell

ID: Q168956

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you drag and drop a merged cell in Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive the following error message:

   Cannot change part of a merged cell.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if either of the following conditions is true:

The location to which you are dragging the merged cell overlaps the original location of the merged cell.
```
    -or-
```
The location to which you are dragging the merged cell overlaps another merged cell without completely covering it.

NOTE: If the new location of the merged cell completely covers another merged cell, the problem does not occur.

RESOLUTION

To prevent this problem from occurring, make sure that when you drag and drop a merged cell, the new location of the merged cell does not overlap any existing merged cells without completely covering them.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Excel 97 includes a new feature that enables you to merge a range of cells into a single, merged cell. To use this feature, select the cells that you want to merge, and then perform either of the following steps:

On the Format menu, click Cells. Select the Alignment tab. Click to select the Merge Cells check box, and click OK.
```
    -or-
```
Click the Merge And Center tool on the Formatting toolbar.

The following steps demonstrate the problem described in this article:

1. In a new worksheet, select the range B2:C6. On the Formatting toolbar,

   click the Merge And Center tool.

2. Repeat step 1, selecting and merging the ranges E2:F3 and F6:H12.

   Your worksheet now contains three merged cells.

3. Select the merged cell that covers the range B2:C6. Drag the cell so

   that it covers the range C2:D6. Release the mouse button.

   The new location of the merged cell (C2:D6) overlaps the original
   location of the merged cell (B2:C6), so you receive the error message
   mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

4. Select the merged cell that covers the range B2:C6. Drag the cell so

   that it covers the range D2:E6. Release the mouse button.

   You receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section,
   because the new location of the merged cell (D2:E6) overlaps, but does
   not completely cover, the merged cell at E2:F3.

5. Select the merged cell that covers the range B2:C6. Drag the cell so

   that it covers the range F6:G10.

   Again, you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms"
   section, because the merged cell does not completely cover the merged
   cell at F6:H12.

Additional query words: XL97

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

Last Reviewed: November 1, 1998