XL97: Deleted 4.0 Macro Function Appears in Function Wizard (166816)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you delete a function name that was created in a Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet, it may still appear in the Function Wizard. If you select it and try to insert it you may get the following error message:

This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

If you click Details, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:

EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at 0137:3003b352

NOTE: The address in the error message may vary.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the following conditions are true:

A name is defined on a Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet. -and-
The name is defined as a Function macro. -and-
The Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro function name has been deleted or the Microsoft Excel macro sheet has been deleted.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, redefine the name so that it is not a function macro, and then delete the name. To do this, follow these steps:

Switch to the Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet.
On the Insert menu, point to Name and click Define.
Select the Macro Function name in the Names In Workbook list and click None under the Macro options. Click OK.
On the Insert menu, point to Name and click Define.
Select the Macro Function name in the Names In Workbook list and click Delete. Click OK.

You can safely delete the Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet if you want.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Excel 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

In order to create custom category names for user-defined functions in Microsoft Excel, you must use a Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet.

For additional information about creating custom category names for user- defined functions, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

137526 XL: How to Add a New Category to Function Category List