XL97: Entire Text File Appears In a Merged Cell (169812)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q169812

SYMPTOMS

If you create a text file that contains at least two Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags and you open that file in Microsoft Excel, the entire text file may appear in a single merged cell (A1). Also, depending on the quantity and type of HTML tags in the text file, Microsoft Excel may unexpectedly quit. When this behavior occurs, the following error messages appear.

Microsoft Windows 95

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 Excel.exe at 0137:30515ded

Microsoft Windows NT

Dr. Watson for Windows NT

An application error has occurred and an application error log is being generated.

Excel.exe

Exception: access violation (0xc0000005), Address 0x30515ded
NOTE: This problem may also occur if the only tag that is in the text document is the <HTML> </HTML> tag.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the text file contains a large number of HTML tags but no table tags. For example, the file does not contain the following table tags:

<Table>
<TR>
<TD>

These tags force Microsoft Excel to parse the data into separate rows and/or columns.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, do the following:

  • Reduce the number of HTML tags in the text document. -or-

  • Use table tags so the data is not imported into a single cell. -or-

  • Reduce the amount of text in the text document.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/21/2000
Keywords:kberrmsg kbweb KB169812
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.