XL97: "Cannot Quit" After Using Visual Basic Editor (172261)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q172261

SYMPTOMS

When you quit Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive the following error message:
Cannot quit Microsoft Excel.
You are unable to quit Microsoft Excel 97.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you attempt to quit Microsoft Excel 97 after performing either of the following actions:
  • You press F8 when the pointer is not inside a subroutine or a function. -or-

  • You press F8 when the pointer is in an empty Visual Basic module.
NOTE: If you subsequently run a Visual Basic macro or subroutine, the problem does not occur.

WORKAROUND

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http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

If this problem occurs, run a Visual Basic subroutine. To run a subroutine, use either of the following methods:
  • In a Visual Basic module, place the cursor inside an existing subroutine, or type a new subroutine. Then, press F5 twice to run the subroutine.

    NOTE: If you use a new subroutine, it is recommended that you use a subroutine similar to the following: 
          Sub Test()
          MsgBox "This is a test."
      End Sub
    -or-

  • In Microsoft Excel 97, point to Macro on the Tools menu and click Macros. Then, click the name of a macro and click Run. Press F5 again to run the subroutine.
After you run a subroutine, you can quit Microsoft Excel 97.

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

Normally, if you press F8 when the Visual Basic Editor is active, the selected subroutine or function is run in "step into" mode. When you run a macro in this mode, you can execute one line of code at a time by pressing F8 repeatedly. You can exit step into mode by pressing F5. The Visual Basic Editor also automatically exits Step Into mode when a macro is completed.

If you press F8 when the pointer is not inside a subroutine or function, Microsoft Excel 97 enters step into mode; however, no macro is active. As a result, even though no macro is running, Microsoft Excel 97 behaves as through a macro is running. When this behavior occurs, you cannot quit Microsoft Excel 97.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/23/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbdtacode kbProgramming KB172261
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