Circular reference

[Walter23]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm migrating from Excel 2003 for XP to Excel for Mac 2008, and find a truly annoying problem. I have a spreadsheet that creates untraceable circular references and suspect it has something to do with links to cells in external files, or the use of named cells (I'm mentioning this just in case this makes a difference).

Whenever I start changing things in the file on the Mac, after a little while, the computer says that "there is a circular reference in an open workbook, but the references that caused it cannot be listed for you. Try editing the last formula you entered or removing it with the Undo command)" (and no, undoing the last command does not solve the problem, as this can be as innocent as the inserting of a "2" in cell a1)

If I go to "tools / error checking" I get all sorts of errors that are unrelated (flag numbers formatted as text" etc. When I then go to untick the options to only leave "flag cells containing formulas that result in an error", the software crashes and I get a very long description of stuff I don't understand. (happy to cut & paste these into the forum, if requested, but it has 18 pages in Word, and 14 threads, if that means anything).

The truly weird thing is that if I then open the same file back to Excel on XP, there is no circular reference, the file works just fine, no worries. In fact, if I create a circular reference, the XP version of Excel shows up an error immediately. I can't find the "circular reference" toolbar on the Mac - using that in XP several times found no circular references at all whatsoever.

So I have a circular reference on the Mac that I cannot find, a file that works perfectly well on XP but not in Leopard, and, bluntly, no idea how I can solve the problem, short of retyping all data which I'm reluctant to do - the file is 468k large.

I'm also at the end of my tether, and find this truly, madly, deeply annoying (I changed to Mac after long period of procrastination, where the idea that software does not crash (and Keynote) was the clincher, and I only got hold of Office for Mac because "numbers" in iWorks can't handle named cells nor cell references to external files).

Any helpful hint is appreciated!

Walter

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm migrating from Excel 2003 for XP to Excel for Mac 2008, and find a truly
annoying problem. I have a spreadsheet that creates untraceable circular
references and suspect it has something to do with links to cells in external
files, or the use of named cells (I'm mentioning this just in case this makes
a difference).

Whenever I start changing things in the file on the Mac, after a little while,
the computer says that "there is a circular reference in an open workbook, but
the references that caused it cannot be listed for you. Try editing the last
formula you entered or removing it with the Undo command)" (and no, undoing
the last command does not solve the problem, as this can be as innocent as the
inserting of a "2" in cell a1)

If I go to "tools / error checking" I get all sorts of errors that are
unrelated (flag numbers formatted as text" etc. When I then go to untick the
options to only leave "flag cells containing formulas that result in an
error", the software crashes and I get a very long description of stuff I
don't understand. (happy to cut & paste these into the forum, if requested,
but it has 18 pages in Word, and 14 threads, if that means anything).

The truly weird thing is that if I then open the same file back to Excel on
XP, there is no circular reference, the file works just fine, no worries. In
fact, if I create a circular reference, the XP version of Excel shows up an
error immediately. I can't find the "circular reference" toolbar on the Mac -
using that in XP several times found no circular references at all whatsoever.

So I have a circular reference on the Mac that I cannot find, a file that
works perfectly well on XP but not in Leopard, and, bluntly, no idea how I can
solve the problem, short of retyping all data which I'm reluctant to do - the
file is 468k large.

I'm also at the end of my tether, and find this truly, madly, deeply annoying
(I changed to Mac after long period of procrastination, where the idea that
software does not crash (and Keynote) was the clincher, and I only got hold of
Office for Mac because "numbers" in iWorks can't handle named cells nor cell
references to external files).

Any helpful hint is appreciated!

Walter

Have you updated to the latest version of office? I think one of the later
fixes addressed the circular reference problem.

 

[Walter23]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

(snip)

So I have a circular reference on the Mac that I cannot find, a file that
works perfectly well on XP but not in Leopard, and, bluntly, no idea how I can
solve the problem, short of retyping all data which I'm reluctant to do - the
file is 468k large.


Any helpful hint is appreciated!

Walter

Have you updated to the latest version of office? I think one of the later
fixes addressed the circular reference problem.[/QUOTE]

Hi Bob,

thanks for your prompt email - I have bought the software yesterday, and will now download the update. Thanks for the idea.

I'll report back on progress.

Walter

 

[Walter23]

On 12/5/08 3:18 PM, in article (e-mail address removed)9absDaxw,

Hi Bob,

thanks for your prompt email - I have bought the software yesterday, and will now download the update. Thanks for the idea.

I'll report back on progress.

Walter

Just updated to the latest version, and so far, fingers crossed, knock on wood etc etc, I have not had a problem.

THANKS for your help - very much appreciated!

Walter

 

[Walter23]

On 12/5/08 3:18 PM, in article (e-mail address removed)9absDaxw,

Just updated to the latest version, and so far, fingers crossed, knock on wood etc etc, I have not had a problem.

THANKS for your help - very much appreciated!

Walter

Just played around for a little while, and it all seems to work fine (there are minor issues - I can't set up Excel so that I don't have to state whether or not I wish to update external links, and some files stubbornly don't seem to be linked unquestioned, but these are minor issues...)

THANKS!

Walter

 

[tim]

that > > > > works perfectly well on XP but not in Leopard, and, bluntly,
no idea how I can > > > > solve the problem, short of retyping all data
which I'm reluctant to do - the > > > > file is 468k large. > > > > >the later > > > fixes addressed the circular reference problem. > > >
-- > > > Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh > > > bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcomthe software yesterday, and will now download the update. Thanks for the
idea. > > > > I'll report back on progress. > > > > Walter > > Just updated
to the latest version, and so far, fingers crossed, knock on wood etc
etc, I have not had a problem. > > THANKS for your help - very much appreciated!




Just played around for a little while, and it all seems to work fine (there
are minor issues - I can't set up Excel so that I don't have to state
whether or not I wish to update external links, and some files stubbornly
don't seem to be linked unquestioned, but these are minor issues...)





THANKS!





Walter




Is it possible to continue this discussion? The original post exactly describes my problem but I am already using v12.1.5 and the circular reference problem has not been solved. Any additional suggestions?

thanks, tim

 

[CyberTaz]

Well, I don't mean to be contradictory, but the flaw was corrected as Bob G.
indicated and as confirmed but the OP of this thread. If you're experiencing
similar behavior there must be something different about your situation. I'm
sure someone will assist, but this isn't the place

It would be best if you submit a NEW message & supply all particulars about
your circumstances including specific build of OS X and details about the
source & content of the file(s) involved. Even though you've applied the
12.1.5 Office update check Excel's About Excel to see what it indicates.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac