"Routine not found" Error Using Microsoft Excel or Office Help

 Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q125895
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Office for Windows, versions 4.2, 4.3

SYMPTOMS

When you try to run Help from Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office, you may receive the following error message : 

   Routine not found

CAUSES

If You Receive the Error Message in Microsoft Excel

This error message occurs if the path specified in the CBTLOCATION= line in the EXCEL5.INI file is invalid or if the WINHELP.INI file does not contain the correct path information for the XLHELP.DLL= and MAINXL.HLP= lines.

If You Receive the Error Message When You

Try To Run OFREADME.HLP (Office Readme Help File)

This problem may occur when you do either of the following:

  • Run the Workstation installation of Office using the UNC path command line from Program Manager: 

            \\<server name>\<share name>\office\setup
  • Connect to the server location where Office has been set up and run the Setup program. Then, after Setup is complete, you disconnect from the drive.

WORKAROUNDS

If You Receive the Error Message from Microsoft Excel

The path for the CBTLOCATION= line should point to the EXCEL\EXCELCBT directory. For example, if you have installed in the C:\EXCEL directory, the line would be shown as: 

   CBTLOCATION=C:\EXCEL\EXCELCBT
Also, the WINHELP.INI must contain the following lines: 

   MAINXL.HLP=<path to the EXCEL directory>

   -and-

   XLHELP.DLL=<path to EXCEL directory>

If You Receive the Error Message from Microsoft Office

In the first scenario, add the following line to your WINHELP.INI: 

   OHELP.DLL=\\anykey\products\office43
In the second scenario, either add a similar line (but with the drive letter instead of the UNC path), or reconnect to the server with the same drive letter from which you ran the install. This will ensure that the path to the Help file is correct.

KBCategory: kbinterop
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 office help file



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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
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