XL97: Illegal Operation When You Refresh Data in PivotTable (207663)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q207663

SYMPTOMS

When you update data in a PivotTable, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
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 may receive an error message similar to the following:
Excel caused an invalid page fault in module Kernel32.dll at 0137:bff9a5d0.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when all of the following conditions are true:
  • You create a PivotTable from external data, and then create a second PivotTable based on the first PivotTable.

    -and-
  • You use the GetPivotData worksheet function and reference both PivotTables.

    -and-
  • You update the data in either PivotTable.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use a name as the argument of the GetPivotData function. For example, the following formulas refer to an item in each of the sample PivotTables that follow.

Example 1

Enter the following data for PivotTable1 in cells A1:D5. 
   Sum of Sales   Product
   Month          Widget1   Widget2   Grand Total
   Jan            $ 1,000   $ 500     $ 1,500
   Feb            $ 1,200   $ 600     $ 1,800
   Mar            $ 1,400   $ 700     $ 2,100
The following formula 
   =GetPivotData(A1:D5, "Jan Widget2")
returns the value 500, the value for Widget2 for the month of January.

The following formula 
   =GetPivotData(A1:D5, "Jan")
returns the value 1,500, the total for the month of January.

Example 2

Enter the following data for PivotTable2 in cells F1:J11. 
   Sum of Sales     Product
   Month   Agent    Widget1   Widget2   Grand Total
   Jan     Bill     $ 300     $ 400     $   700
           Steve    $ 700     $ 100     $   800
   Jan Total        $ 1,000   $ 500     $ 1,500

   Feb     Bill     $ 800     $ 300     $ 1,100
           Steve    $ 400     $ 300     $   700
   Feb Total        $ 1,200   $ 600     $ 1,800

   Mar     Bill     $ 600     $ 200     $   800
           Steve    $ 800     $ 500     $ 1,300
   Mar Total        $ 1,400   $ 700     $ 2,100
The following formula 
   =GetPivotData(F1:J11, "Jan Bill Widget1")
returns 300, the value for the month of January for the Agent Bill and for the Product Widget1.

The following formula 
   =GetPivotData(F1:J11, "Feb Widget2")
returns 1200, the value for Widget2 for the month of February.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The GetPivotData worksheet function returns data that is stored in a PivotTable. You can use GetPivotData to retrieve summary data from a PivotTable, provided that the summary data is visible in the PivotTable. However, when you use the function to return data from more than one PivotTable, and one table is based on an existing PivotTable that uses external data, the program may quit when you update the data.

REFERENCES

For more information about the GetPivotData function, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type getpivotdata worksheet function in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/20/2001
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg KB207663
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.