XL: Custom Function Returns Incorrect Value/Appears to Hang

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you use a custom function, the function may return an incorrectly calculated value, or, during recalculation, the function may appear to hang your computer (to return control to your Microsoft Excel, press the ESC key).

CAUSE

This problem occurs under the following conditions:

• The custom function relies on another custom function for at least one of its arguments.

      -and-
  

• In the declaration line for the custom function, the function arguments have not been declared with data types, as in the following example:

        Function Test (arg) As Integer
  

WORKAROUND

To ensure that Microsoft Excel calculates the custom function properly, add the expected data types for all arguments when you declare the function. For the example, change the function

   Function Test (arg)

   Function Test (arg As Integer)

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.