Microsoft Knowledge Base

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you run a Visual Basic macro that uses the ErrorBar method to add error bars to a series on a chart, you receive the following error message when you run the macro:

   Run-time error '1004':

   ErrorBar method of Series class failed

CAUSE

This error occurs when the macro uses the ErrorBar method to add only a negative custom error amount to a selected series, and the Amount argument is missing.

Note that when you turn on the macro recorder, and you use the Format Data Series dialog box to add only a negative custom error amount to a chart series, the recorded macro is missing the Amount argument and returns the error message above when you run the macro.

The Amount argument should be optional for the ErrorBar method, as the Visual Basic Reference indicates. The argument is used for the positive error amount when you use a custom error amount. However, the argument is required if you want to avoid receiving the error message above, even if the value is empty when you use the ErrorBar method to add a negative custom error amount.

WORKAROUND

To avoid receiving this error message when you use the ErrorBar method to add only a custom minus error bar to a chart series, add the following argument to the ErrorBar method command in your macro:

   Amount:=""

   ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(4).ErrorBar Direction:=xlY, Include:= _
      xlMinusValues, Type:=xlCustom, MinusValues:="={3}", Amount:=""

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

For more information about the ErrorBar Method, choose the Search button in the Visual Basic Reference and type:

    ErrorBar Method