XL2000: Cannot Paste Array Formula in Its Original Cell

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This article was previously published under Q213568

SYMPTOMS

When you copy and paste a formula, you may receive the following error message:

You cannot change part of an array.

-or-

When you run a Visual Basic for Applications macro, you may receive the following error message:

Run-time error '438'. Object doesn't support this property or method.

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This will occur if you copy (either manually or through a macro) a cell that contains an array formula and then attempt to paste the copied formula into a range of cells that also includes the original cell. For example, you copy cell A1 and then attempt to paste it to cells A1 through A10.

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WORKAROUND

Copy and Paste Without a Macro

To work around this problem when you copy and paste the formula manually, follow these steps:

Select the cell that contains the array formula (for example, cell A1).
Press F2, and then press ENTER.

If you receive the error message "You cannot change part of an array" this array formula is entered into multiple cells. Click OK.
Select the range of cells, including the original cell, into which the array formula should be entered (for example A1:A10). Make sure that the cell that contains the formula is the active cell.
Press F2, then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

The array formula is now entered into the entire range of cells.

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Copy and Paste with a Macro

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. To work around this problem when you copy and paste the formula with a macro, perform the following steps in your macro:

Read the array formula from the original cell, and store the formula in a variable.
Clear the original cell.
Apply the stored formula to all of the cells in the range, including the original cell.

The following sample macro demonstrates how to do this. In this example, cell A1 contains the array formula "=SUM(IF(B1:B100=0,1,0))", (without quotation marks). The macro applies this formula to the range A1:A10.

Sub CopyArrayFormula()
    'stores formula in variable
    xFormula = Range("A1").Formula
    'clears formula from cell
    Range("A1").Clear
    'applies formula
    Range("A1:A10").FormulaArray = xFormula
End Sub

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MORE INFORMATION

In Excel, array formulas are a special type of formula that allow you to perform a large number of calculations in a single cell. When you want to enter a formula as an array formula, instead of just pressing ENTER, you press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

In versions of Microsoft Excel earlier than Excel 97, it is possible for you or a Visual Basic macro to paste a copied array formula in a range of cells that includes the original copied cell.

In Excel 2000, this will not work unless you first clear the original cell, or convert it into a normal formula.

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