XL97: Code "Behind" Worksheet or Workbook may not Work

In Microsoft Excel 97, code that is contained "behind" a worksheet or workbook may not work correctly.

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 (ThisWorkbook) itself.

In order for automatically-running subroutines to work correctly in Microsoft Excel 97, they must be contained within a Visual Basic module. To insert a new 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.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

In Microsoft Excel 97, 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 by pressing ALT + F11 on your keyboard.
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 enter 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.