Excel: GP Fault with Database Functions

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a

SYMPTOMS

If you are using Microsoft Excel for Windows and you use a database function such as DCOUNT(), DSUM(), or DAVERAGE() as the reference in a defined name, if the variable in this function is referenced later on in another sheet, you receive a general protection (GP) fault under Microsoft Windows 3.1 or an Unrecoverable Application Error (UAE) in Microsoft Windows versions 3.0 and 3.0a.

This error also occurs when a database function is referenced on a macro sheet using SET.NAME to define a new variable.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above. We are researching this problem, and will post more information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND

To avoid receiving a GP fault, create the defined name on the destination spreadsheet. For example, in the Refers To box in the Define Name dialog box you would use the following syntax

   =DSUM(Sheetname!Database,Field,Sheetname!Criteria)

If you receive the error message when you run a macro, you can define the variable name in the macro sheet to avoid the error message by using the following syntax:

   =SET.NAME("VariableName",DSUM(!Database,Field,!Criteria))

REFERENCES

"User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 344-346 "Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 91-97 "User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 385-387 "Function Reference," version 3.0, pages 46-47