XL: Code "Behind" Worksheet or Workbook May Not Work (213581)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
This article was previously published under Q213581
For a Microsoft Excel 97 version of this article, see 157346.
For a Microsoft Excel 98 version of this article, see 182482.

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, code that is contained "behind" a worksheet or workbook may not work correctly.

CAUSE

This will occur if both of the following conditions are true:
  • The code in question is contained inside an automatically-running subroutine, such as an Auto_Open or Auto_Close subroutine.

    -and-
  • The code is not contained in a Visual Basic module, but "behind" a worksheet or the workbook itself.

WORKAROUND

In order for automatically-running subroutines to work correctly in Microsoft Excel, they must be contained within a Visual Basic module.

You must insert a Visual Basic module into the workbook and then place the code in the new module.

To insert a Visual Basic module:
  1. In the Project Explorer in the Visual Basic Editor, activate the workbook that contains the code in question.
  2. On the Insert menu, click Module.
After the new module is inserted, cut the code from its original location and paste it into the Visual Basic module. Then, save the workbook.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic for Applications code can be stored in three different locations: in a Visual Basic module, in a Visual Basic class module, and "behind" worksheets and workbooks.

To edit code "behind" a worksheet or a workbook:
  1. Activate the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).
  2. In the Project Explorer window, you will see entries similar to the following:
         VBAProject (Book1)
         Microsoft Excel Objects
            Sheet1 (Sheet1)
            Sheet2 (Sheet2)
            Sheet3 (Sheet3)
            ThisWorkbook         
         Modules
             Module1
If you double-click one of the worksheet names or ThisWorkbook, you can type code in the code window. Such code not contained within a Visual Basic module is considered to be "behind" the worksheet or ThisWorkbook .

If an Auto_Open, Auto_Close, or other automatically-running subroutine is stored "behind" a worksheet or ThisWorkbook, it may not function correctly when you open or close your workbook, or when you perform an action that should cause the subroutine to run.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/8/2003
Keywords:kbpending kbprb kbProgramming KB213581
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