XL98: Len Function Returns Only 255 Characters in Cell

• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, if you use the Len function to calculate the number of characters in an object, such as a cell, you may receive the incorrect result, 255.

CAUSE

This occurs if the following conditions are true:

• The object contains more than 255 characters.

      -and-
  

• You use the Text property of the object inside the Len function, for example, Len(ActiveCell.Text).

WORKAROUND

To determine the correct number of characters within an object, use the Value property within the Len function, as in the following example:

   Len(ActiveCell.Value)

STATUS

This behavior is by design of the Text property in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use the Len function in Visual Basic for Applications to calculate the number of characters within a cell in a worksheet or within any other object that contains text.

If you use the Len function to calculate the number of characters contained in an object, and if you use the Text property of the object, the maximum result is 255. This may cause problems if the object in question contains more than 255 characters.

For additional information about the Text property in Microsoft Excel, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q182483
   TITLE     : XL98: Text Property Limited to 255 Characters