XL97: Page Fault When You Use CTRL Key to Run Macro in XLL

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you run a macro by pressing both CTRL and a letter key, 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 KERNEL32.DLL at
   0137:bff857e7.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the CTRL key combination you are pressing is assigned to a macro that is contained within an XLL file.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do not use CTRL key combinations to run macros that are contained within XLL files.

If you are developing an XLL file, do not assign CTRL key combinations to macros within the XLL file. These combinations do not work in Excel 97 or any earlier version of Excel.

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

XLL files are special DLL files that add macros and functionality to Excel when opened. For example, the Analysis.xll file included with Excel provides new functions that Visual Basic for Applications macros can use.

In earlier versions of Excel, if you open an XLL file that contains macros, and then press the CTRL key combination for a macro in the XLL file, the macro does not run. If you do this in Excel 97, you receive the error messages shown above.