File "excel.txt"

Path: /os2/info/tips/excel.txt
File size: 2.35 KB
MIME-type: text/plain
Charset: utf-8

 For users of Excel for OS/2 and ATI Graphics Ultra video drivers:

 I have had the Excel for OS/2 session (3.0) crash with SYS3175 trap 2
 access violations at 1055d when creating macros. The situation which
 seems to cause the problem is whenever an invalid cell reference is
 generated by the macro (a common situation until you've debugged). My
 only recourse at this point is to run the macro in single step mode and
 evaluate each expression before execution, then halt whenever I see
 that a bad cell reference is being generated, just before the command
 that will use the reference is executed. Once the reference is being
 generated correctly by the macro code, I can let it run in normal mode.

 Sample macro code which causes this error:
      =FORMULA.GOTO("TestName")
      =RETURN()
where TestName has not been defined on the current worksheet

After re-installing OS/2 and Excel and re-doing my system customizations
for device drivers, CONFIG.SYS settings, OS/2 System Set-up, etc. I have
narrowed the problem down to some interaction between Excel and the ATI
Graphics Accelerator PM video driver (version 1.3) for my Graphics Ultra
card.  When I installed the ATI PM driver in 1024x768 mode, I started
experiencung the Excel macro problem.  The IBM drivers supplied with
OS/2 for both VGA and 8514A video modes do not result in the Excel
problem; the macro stops with a message box but the Excel session does
not go down. I have tried installing the Graphics Accelerator in all 3
resolutions - 1024x768,800x600 and 640x480, and Excel exhibits the
problem described above in all cases. I have not experienced problems
with any other applications using the ATI driver.

I contacted ATI Technologies and they informed me that the ATI driver I
am using was designed for OS/2 1.3, but can be used with 2.0; there are
some limitations, one of which causes my problem with Excel macros. They
are aware of the problem, and will be providing a fully OS/2 2.0
compliant driver for the Graphics Ultra in 1024x7868 mode, to be ready
for early October/92.

In the meantime, a reasonable compromise is to use the IBM 8514A driver
supplied with OS/2 2.0, which will provide the benefit of 1024x768
resolution, although not attaining the full video performance of the card
which the ATI driver provides.

                                           Ken Findlay