XL98: Cannot Paste Array Formula in Its Original Cell (182646)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q182646 SYMPTOMS
When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro in Microsoft Excel 98
Macintosh Edition, you may receive the following error message:
Run-time error '1004':
You cannot change part of an array.
Or, when you manually paste a copied cell in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh
Ediiton, you may receive the following error message:
You cannot change part of an array.
CAUSE
This will occur if you copy (either manually or through a macro) a cell
that contains an array formula and then attempt to paste the copied formula
into a range of cells that also includes the original cell. For example,
you copy cell A1 and then attempt to paste it to cells A1 through A10.
WORKAROUND
If you manually copy and paste a formula that is part of an array, use the
following steps to copy and paste the formula without receiving an error
message:
- Select the cell that contains the array formula (for example, cell A1).
- Press COMMAND+U, and then press RETURN.
If you receive the error message "You cannot change part of an array"
this array formula is entered into multiple cells. Click OK.
- Select the range of cells, including the original cell, into which
the array formula should be entered (for example A1:A10). Make sure
that the cell that contains the formula is the active cell.
- Press COMMAND+U, and then press COMMAND+RETURN.
The array formula is now entered into the entire range of cells.
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To prevent this problem from occurring when you copy and paste the formula
with a macro, you should perform the following steps in your macro:
- Read the array formula from the original cell, and store the formula
in a variable.
- Clear the original cell.
- Apply the stored formula to all of the cells in the range, including
the original cell.
The following sample macro demonstrates how to do this. In this example,
cell A1 contains the array formula =SUM(IF(B1:B100=0,1,0)). The macro applies this formula to the range A1:A10.
Sub CopyArrayFormula1()
'stores formula in variable
xFormula = Range("A1").Formula
'clears formula from cell
Range("A1").Clear
'applies formula
Range("A1:A10").FormulaArray = xFormula
End Sub
STATUS
This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.
MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel, array formulas are a special type of formula that allow
you to perform a large number of calculations in a single cell. When you
want to enter a formula as an array formula, instead of just pressing
RETURN, you press COMMAND+RETURN.
In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, it is possible for you or a Visual
Basic macro to paste a copied array formula in a range of cells that
includes the original copied cell.
In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, this will not work unless you
first clear the original cell, or convert it into a normal formula. This
behavior is actually correct: the behavior of earlier versions of Microsoft
Excel is incorrect.
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 6/17/2005 |
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Keywords: | kbdtacode kberrmsg kbnofix kbprb KB182646 |
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