XL97: VB System Error &H8000FFF When Saving Excel Workbook

Last reviewed: October 9, 1998
Article ID: Q193725

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive one of the following error messages when you save a workbook.

NOTE: These error messages do not result in loss of data. The workbook is saved properly and Microsoft Excel remains open.

Windows 95/98

   Microsoft Visual Basic
   System Error &H8000FFF (-2147418113). Unexpected failure

Your only choices are OK and Help and you must click OK three times to remove the message.

Windows NT 4.0

   Microsoft Visual Basic
   System Error &H8000FFF (-2147418113). Catastrophic failure

Your only choices are OK and Help and you must click OK three times to remove the message.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

You create a UserForm in the Visual Basic Editor.
```
    -and-
```
You save the workbook in the Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 format.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, save the workbook in either the Microsoft Excel Workbook format (which saves the UserForm data), or the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format (which does not save the UserForm data).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Because UserForms were introduced in Microsoft Excel 97, Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0 cannot view UserForms that you created in Excel 97.

If you reopen the workbook in Excel 97, the UserForm information will still be there. However, if you open and save the workbook in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 or 7.0, the UserForm information will be lost.

REFERENCES

For more information about UserForms, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "UserForm," click Search, and then click to view "Creating a UserForm."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Additional query words: XL97 errmsg win95 win98 winnt VBA
Keywords : kberrmsg kbprg kbdta kbconversion xlloadsave
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug
Solution Type : kbnofix

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.