Automation Error with Excel Shared Workbooks

[Guest]

Any hints appreciated:
We are running a shared Excel (2002/Sp2) Workbook with various VBA
functions. Sporadically, by just opening the Workbook with enabled macros and
in shared mode, the error message "automation error - catastrophic failure"
occurs (happens roughly 1 out of 30 times). Also Excel and VBA debugging
hangs in a loop, and must be terminated by the task manager. Once the error
happens, it is sticky to the workbook (workaround is: open with disabled
macros, remove sharing, store, enable sharing again - but you risk loosing
data).

Problem is, that we cannot identify the cause, as the error occurs only with
the workbook in shared mode, and you cannot debug VBA if in shared mode. I've
added an error handler into the VBA code, but it is not called when the error
occurs.

Thanks in advance - Robert

 

[Guest]

Here is the fix derived by MS:

The problem could be avoided by two measures:
a) make sure that no access to the shared workbook is made from a user that
left extras=>options=>general=>username empty.
As soon as two users with blank usernames access the sheet, the automation
error occurs. To control the community having access, set a read+write
password for the shared workbook.
b) avoid user-defined functions with *long* procedure names.

Hope it helps others.

Regards - Robert