XL97: Page Fault After Saving Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you close a workbook that was saved in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet format, 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
   0137:30217df8.

   -or-

   EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module MSO97.DLL at
   0137:306c34b9.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the following conditions are true:

• An open workbook (for example, Book1) contains a formula that refers to a cell in a worksheet with a name that is the same as the workbook name that contains the worksheet, for example:

        =[Book3.xls]Book3!A1
  

• The workbook referenced in the formula is closed.

      -and-
  

• You save another workbook (for example, Book2) in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet format. When you save the worksheet, you use the same name as the name used in the formula (Book3.xls), but you save the worksheet in a different folder.

      -and-
  

• You then close Book3.xls, switch to Book1.xls, and then edit the formula that refers to the closed workbook.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, when you save a worksheet in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet format, do not give the worksheet the same name as another workbook that is referenced by a formula in an open workbook.

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

Because the problem described in this article occurs only when you save a worksheet in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet format, you are not likely to encounter this problem. If you must save worksheets in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet format, use the resolution in this article to prevent the problem from occurring.