Article ID: 814506 - Last Review: October 10, 2005 - Revision: 2.3

Internet Explorer: CellIndex is Calculated in Display Order

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SYMPTOMS

When you use the cellIndex property when you script a Web page, and then you use the property to reference the next cell in tree order, it may instead reference the next cell in display order and return the wrong value.
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WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, you can compute the correct index value by using a function similar to the following function:
// returns absolute (document) index of cell 
// from table and relative (visible) index of cell 

function getAbsoluteIndex(t,relIndex) 
{ 
countnotvisible=0; 
countvisible=0; 
for (i=0;i<t.cells.length;i++) { 
cell=t.cells(i); 
if (cell.style.display=='none') countnotvisible++; else countvisible++; 
if (countvisible>relIndex) return i; 
} 
return i; 
}
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RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Internet Explorer 6 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   16-Apr-2003  10:46  6.0.2800.1190  2,792,960  Mshtml.dll
The German version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. 
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   16-Apr-2003  10:50  6.0.2800.1190  2,792,960  Mshtml.dll
The hotfix package automatically installs the following registry key that has a REG_DWORD value of 1:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Count Hidden Table Cells
If you delete this registry key, you disable the fix.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming) 6 (SP1)
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming) 5.5 SP2
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Keywords: 
kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbfix kbcode kbbug kbprb KB814506
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Retired KB ArticleRetired KB Content Disclaimer
This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.
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