XL97: Page Fault Editing Formula That Returns #NULL! Error

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you select a cell that contains a formula that returns a #NULL! error value and you click the formula bar, you may receive the following error message:

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
   If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

   EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at
   0137:3024d6bf.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• The formula in question contains a reference to two cells or to defined names that do not have any cells in common.

  For example, the following formula refers to the defined name "Test," which refers to cell C3, and the cell A1:

        =Test A1
  

  As a result, the formula returns a #NULL! error value.

      -and-
  

• You turn off in-cell editing in Microsoft Excel 97 by following these steps:

        1. On the Tools menu, click Options. Then, click the Edit tab.
  

        2. Click to clear the "Edit directly in cell" check box.
  

        3. Click OK.
  

      -and-
  

• Before clicking the formula bar, you double-click the cell that contains the formula, and then click to select the same cell.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods:

• Select in-cell editing in Microsoft Excel 97 by following these steps:

        1. On the Tools menu, click Options. Then, click the Edit tab.
  

        2. Click to select the "Edit directly in cell" check box.
  

        3. Click OK.
  

      -or-
  

• If you double-click a cell that contains a formula that returns a #NULL! error value, edit another cell (make any change) before you click the cell that contains the formula, and then click the formula bar.

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.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you turn off in-cell editing and double-click a cell that contains a formula, Microsoft Excel automatically selects the cells and/or defined names that are referred to by the formula in the cell. This feature allows you to quickly determine which cells are referenced by a formula.