XL97: Some Values Not Recalculated When Using Multiple Formulas

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, formulas in a worksheet that refer to other cells that also contain formulas may not be recalculated properly when the referenced cells change. As a result, the worksheet may contain values that are not updated.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when all of the following conditions are true:

• You are working with a worksheet in which a range of 18 or more cells are in the same row.

      -and-
  

• Each of these cells contains a formula that refers to the cell directly to the left.

  For example, cell B33 refers to cell A33, cell C33 refers to cell B33, cell D33 refers to cell C33, and so on.

      -and-
  

• The range of cells is in a row with a row number that is a multiple of 16 plus 1.

  For example, row 17 is divisible by 16 with a remainder of 1, as are rows 33, 49, 65, and so on.

      -and-
  

• A formula in a different cell refers to one of the cells in the range.

      -and-
  

• A formula in any cell refers to any cell above the range of 18 or more cells.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

For information about downloading and installing this patch, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q174868
   TITLE     : XL97: How to Obtain the Excel 97 Auto Recalculation Patch

   http://www.microsoft.com/office/excel/enhancements/xl8p1.asp

• Press CTRL+ALT+F9.

  When you use this key combination, Microsoft Excel completely recalculates the values in the worksheet.

      -or-
  

• Run a Visual Basic for Applications procedure to recalculate the values in the worksheet.

  When you run the following sample Auto_Open procedure, values in the active worksheet are recalculated:

        Sub Auto_Open()
            Application.SendKeys "^%{F9}"
        End Sub
  
     NOTE: Do not attempt to use a Worksheet_Activate or a
     Worksheet_Calculate procedure to recalculate the values. If you do this,
     a recursive process begins, and Microsoft Excel 97 performs very slowly.
  
     For example, do not use the following procedures:
  
        Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
            Application.SendKeys "^%{F9}"
        End Sub
  
        -or-
  
        Private Sub Worksheet_Calculate()
            Application.SendKeys "^%{F9}"
        End Sub
  
  

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Example of the Problem

To demonstrate the problem described in the "Symptoms" section of this article, follow these steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel 97, create a new workbook.

2. Select the range D33:U33. Type the following formula

         =C33+1
   

   and press CTRL+ENTER.

3. Select cell A34. Enter the following formula:

         =A32
   

4. Select cell D34. Enter the following formula:

         =D33
   

5. Enter any value in cell C33.

NOTE: If this problem occurs, your workbook has not necessarily become corrupted or damaged. However, if you are concerned about possible workbook corruption, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q142117
   TITLE     : Excel: Summary of Methods to Recover Data from Corrupted
               Files