MSQUERY: Crash or Query Lost after "Division By Zero" Error

• Microsoft Query for Windows, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Query, when you edit your query and enter the value zero (0) in a record in your database, you may receive the following error message:

   Division by zero

Microsoft Query version 1.0

• The data in your query disappears from the Data pane

  -or-

• You receive a general protection (GP) fault in module MSQUERY.EXE

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you enter the value zero in a column in your query that is being used as the denominator in a division operation in a field expression. For example, if you create an expression for a field in your query, such as Field1/Field2, you may receive the results described above if you then enter the value zero in the Field2 column.

By design, you receive the "Division by zero" error message whenever you enter a value or expression in your query that causes the value zero to be used in the denominator of an expression. However, if you create the division expression for a field, and you then edit your data so that the value zero is used as the denominator in the expression, your query data may disappear from the Data pane following the "Division by zero" error message.

Additionally, if you create the division expression for a field from an existing expression, and you then edit your data so that the value zero is used as the denominator in the expression, you may receive a GP fault in addition to the "Division by zero" error message.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this problem, do not add the value zero to a record in your database if the column that contains this value is being used as the denominator in an expression for a field.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.