Error Opening Chart in Excel 4.0 After Saving

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, when you create a chart that contains a complex reference, and you save the file that contains the chart as a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 file (either chart, worksheet or workbook), if you save the file in Microsoft Excel version 4.0, you receive the following error message when you open the file again in Microsoft Excel version 4.0:

   External References are not valid

CAUSE

This behavior only occurs after you save the file in Microsoft Excel version 4.0, and then open the file again in Microsoft Excel version 4.0. You do not receive an error message when you open the file in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 after saving the file in either version.

This behavior occurs when you create a chart using complex references, by selecting nonadjacent cells, such as A1, D1, A3, D3, and so on. When you open the chart in Microsoft Excel version 4.0, the chart references are incorrect, although the data on the chart appears correct. No error message appears when you open the chart, however, if you save the chart in version 4.0, and then open the chart again, you receive the above error message.

WORKAROUNDS

To avoid receiving this error message when you open a chart in Microsoft Excel version 4.0, do either of the following:

• If you have Microsoft Excel version 5.0, as well as version 4.0, save the chart in version 5.0 only (to the 4.0 file format). Note that you can still view the file in version 4.0.

  -or-

• If you only have version 4.0 of Microsoft Excel, you can correct the chart references by using the formula bar. Note however that if you save the file again in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, the problem still occurs.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in a later version of Microsoft Excel.