XL5 Err Msg: "Not Enough Memory" With Indirect Defined Names

- Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, defined names are normally limited to 20 levels of indirection. If you use a defined name that exceeds this limit, you will receive the "Not enough memory" error message.

MORE INFORMATION

A level of indirection in defined names is created when one name refers to another name or to a cell reference.

If you have the following names defined in a workbook (Book1)

   Name    Refers to       Level of indirection
   --------------------------------------------

   Test1   =Sheet1!$A$1               1
   Test2   =Book1!Test1               2
   Test3   =Book1!Test2               3
   Test4   =Book1!Test3               4
   Test5   =Book1!Test4               5
   Test6   =Book1!Test5               6
   Test7   =Book1!Test6               7
   Test8   =Book1!Test7               8
   Test9   =Book1!Test8               9
   Test10  =Book1!Test9               10
   Test11  =Book1!Test10              11
   Test12  =Book1!Test11              12
   Test13  =Book1!Test12              13
   Test14  =Book1!Test13              14
   Test15  =Book1!Test14              15
   Test16  =Book1!Test15              16
   Test17  =Book1!Test16              17
   Test18  =Book1!Test17              18
   Test19  =Book1!Test18              19
   Test20  =Book1!Test19              20 (the limit)
   Test21  =Book1!Test20              21

You may also receive this error message if you try to delete a name that has too many levels of indirection below it. For example, if you try to delete the name "Test1", you may receive the error message because the name "Test21" is 20 or more levels of indirection away.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

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To create an example that demonstrates what can happen if you exceed the limit of 20 levels of indirection, do the following:

1. Open a new workbook (Book1) that contains a Visual Basic module (Module1) and a worksheet (Sheet1) and does not contain any defined names. In the Visual Basic module, type the following:

      '----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Option Explicit
   
      Sub CreateNames()
         'Dimension some variables.
         Dim X As Integer
         'Create the name "Test1", which refers to Sheet1!$A$1.
         ActiveWorkbook.Names.Add Name:="Test1", RefersTo:="=Sheet1!$A$1"
         'Iterate through the loop 20 times, creating the names "Test2"
         'through "Test21".
         For X = 2 To 21
         'Create the name "Test(X)", which refers to the name "Test(X-1)".
         'For example, Test2 refers to Test1, Test3 refers to Test2, etc.
         'IMPORTANT: These two lines should be entered as one line.
            ActiveWorkbook.Names.Add Name:="Test" & X, _
               RefersTo:="=Book1!Test" & X - 1
         Next                                  'loop until all done
      End Sub
      '----------------------------------------------------------------------
   
   

2. To run the CreateNames() subroutine, position the insertion point in the line that reads Sub CreateNames() and press the F5 key.

   When you run the CreateNames subroutine, you will have 21 names defined on Sheet1. Each name Test[X], where [X] is a number from 2 to 21, refers to Test[X-1]. Test1 refers to Sheet1!$A$1.

3. On Sheet1, enter the following values:

   B1: =Test20 B2: =Test21

   When you enter the formula =Test21, you will receive the "Not enough memory" error message message. This is because the name Test21 is at the 21st level of indirection relative to Test1, to which it ultimately refers. The "=Test20" formula works because Test20 is only at the 20th level of indirection relative to Test1.

4. From the Insert menu, choose Name, and then choose Define.

5. From the Names In Workbook list, select Test1 and choose the Delete button.

   Again, you will receive the "Not enough memory" error message. The name Test1 will not be deleted.