AutoFilter Status Bar Message Shows "Filter Mode"

If you filter a list in-place in Microsoft Excel, the status bar may display the following message:



This message is incorrect. Instead, the status bar should display the following message



where <number> is the appropriate number of records.

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

• You have 51 or more formulas in a list.
  
  -and-
• You filter the list in-place (you click AutoFilter on the Data menu, and select a value from the AutoFilter list or you click Advanced Filter on the Data menu, click to select "Filter the list, in-place," and select a value from the filter list).
  
  -and-
• Each formula contains at least one cell reference.
  
  -and-
• Excel makes a change to the status bar to indicate the calculation of formulas before the filter process is completed.

To temporarily work around this problem, prevent the formulas from calculating when you run a filter. To do so, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. In the Options dialog box, click the Calculation tab.
3. On the Calculation tab, click Manual under Calculation.
4. Filter the list to see the filter results in the status bar.

To restore calculation, click Options on the Tools menu, click the Calculation tab, and click Automatic under Calculation.

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

Calculation of formulas may cause Excel to show the "Calculating <number>%" message in the status bar. Depending on the complexity of the formulas, this may occur when there are more than 50 formulas. The act of filtering causes recalculation of formulas.

When you filter a list in-place, Excel displays the "<number> of <number> records found" message, unless the status bar is changed before the filter is completed. If you do not have a large number of formula cells to calculate, Excel does not indicate the calculation with the status indicator, but displays the typical "<number> of <number> records found" message. However, if calculation is indicated in the status bar, even though it is very brief, the status bar message changes to the "Filter mode" message.

For more information about AutoFilter, click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Excel 97 Help, type the following text



and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Display a subset of rows in a list by using filters" topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

For more information about advanced filters, click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Excel 97 Help, type the following text



and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Filter a list by using advanced criteria" topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.