Autoexec Macro in Infinite Loop
PSS ID Number: Q11113
Article last modified on 07-21-1988
PSS database name: D_MPlan

2.x 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.04

MS-DOS


Summary: 
   If you use an autoexec macro to load a SYLK file, the macro may go
into an infinite loop. This occurs because when a SYLK file is loaded,
it is merged with the current worksheet (in this case, the one running
the autoexec macro). 
   After a new file is loaded, Multiplan always looks for an autoexec
macro and executes it if it is found. In this case, the one it finds
is the one that is set up to load the SYLK file; it then proceeds to
load the file a second time. Thus, unless the autoexec macro is
overwritten by some part of the SYLK file when the SYLK file is first
loaded (merged), the macro causes an infinite loop. 

More Information:
   If you have to use an autoexec macro to load a SYLK file, the
autoexec macro can be set up to test whether the SYLK file has already
been loaded by doing one of the following: 

   1. Have the macro confirm the existence of a field that only exists
      in the SYLK file. 
   2. Place the autoexec macro where it will be overwritten by the
      SYLK file when it is loaded. 

   You can set a flag in the macro to determine if the SYLK file has
been loaded by doing the following: 

   name this cell "load" --->  0
   define this cell as   --->  'IFload=1''QU
   a macro named               GNload'RTV1'RT
   "autoexec"                  TOS'RTTL<filename>'RT

    This will load the SYLK file whose name is specified in the file
name and set the flag "load" to 1. On the second pass, the macro will
terminate without trying to load the SYLK file a second time. 

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1988.