error message when sorting in Excel

[lhowar]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I receive an error message and Excel closes on me when I try to sort data in one column.
I have tried to sort the same file using different computers, but get the same result (I wanted to make sure the software on the primary computer wasn't the issue).
The error message is as follows:
Microsoft Error Reporting log version: 2.0

Error Signature:
Exception: EXC_ARITHMETIC
Date/Time: 2008-08-01 11:47:03 -0500
Application Name: Microsoft Excel
Application Bundle ID: com.microsoft.Excel
Application Signature: XCEL
Application Version: 12.1.1.080522
Crashed Module Name: Microsoft Excel
Crashed Module Version: 12.1.1.080522
Crashed Module Offset: 0x0008e68e
Blame Module Name: Microsoft Excel
Blame Module Version: 12.1.1.080522
Blame Module Offset: 0x0008e68e
Application LCID: 1033
Extra app info: Reg=en Loc=0x0409

Thread 0 crashed:

# 1 0x0008f68e in __mh_execute_header + 0x0008E68E (Microsoft Excel + 0x0008e68e)
# 2 0x00090dbb in __mh_execute_header + 0x0008FDBB (Microsoft Excel + 0x0008fdbb)
# 3 0x00094bb9 in __mh_execute_header + 0x00093BB9 (Microsoft Excel + 0x00093bb9)
# 4 0x0018052a in __mh_execute_header + 0x0017F52A (Microsoft Excel + 0x0017f52a)
# 5 0x0008b4b3 in __mh_execute_header + 0x0008A4B3 (Microsoft Excel + 0x0008a4b3)
# 6 0x0008b513 in __mh_execute_header + 0x0008A513 (Microsoft Excel + 0x0008a513)
# 7 0x00612b26 in __mh_execute_header + 0x00611B26 (Microsoft Excel + 0x00611b26)
# 8 0x00617343 in __mh_execute_header + 0x00616343 (Microsoft Excel + 0x00616343)
# 9 0x01a6eb32 in _MsoFCreateToolbarSet + 0x000011BE (MicrosoftOffice + 0x0033db32)
# 10 0x0148af03 in _McpFCreateIMcpMRFssOffice10 + 0x00000D47 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x0002bf03)
# 11 0x0148b011 in _McpFCreateIMcpMRFssOffice10 + 0x00000E55 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x0002c011)
# 12 0x014d5c7c in _McpFBuildCMLinkableTextStyleTag + 0x0000A654 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x00076c7c)
# 13 0x0148b521 in _McpFCreateIMcpMRFssOffice10 + 0x00001365 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x0002c521)
# 14 0x014d19a9 in _McpFBuildCMLinkableTextStyleTag + 0x00006381 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x000729a9)
# 15 0x01503eb8 in MHIView::HandleEvent(OpaqueEventHandlerCallRef*, MEvent&) + 0x000009A8 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x000a4eb8)
# 16 0x01502a20 in MHIView::GetMHIView(OpaqueControlRef*) + 0x000000F0 (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x000a3a20)
# 17 0x014fa84c in MEventHandler::FRemoveHandler(unsigned long, unsigned long) + 0x000001DE (MicrosoftComponentPlugin + 0x0009b84c)
# 18 0x96cbe763 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96994B43 (HIToolbox + 0x00007763)
# 19 0x96cbdb9d in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96993F7D (HIToolbox + 0x00006b9d)
# 20 0x96cbda02 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96993DE2 (HIToolbox + 0x00006a02)
# 21 0x96d9e17c in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A7455C (HIToolbox + 0x000e717c)
# 22 0x96d9dfa0 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A74380 (HIToolbox + 0x000e6fa0)
# 23 0x96d8a7e2 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A60BC2 (HIToolbox + 0x000d37e2)
# 24 0x96cccda9 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x969A3189 (HIToolbox + 0x00015da9)
# 25 0x96cbe763 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96994B43 (HIToolbox + 0x00007763)
# 26 0x96cbdb9d in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96993F7D (HIToolbox + 0x00006b9d)
# 27 0x96cda4ee in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x969B08CE (HIToolbox + 0x000234ee)
# 28 0x96d87e13 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A5E1F3 (HIToolbox + 0x000d0e13)
# 29 0x96d87c75 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A5E055 (HIToolbox + 0x000d0c75)
# 30 0x96d87605 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A5D9E5 (HIToolbox + 0x000d0605)
# 31 0x96d873f7 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A5D7D7 (HIToolbox + 0x000d03f7)
# 32 0x96d4308a in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96A1946A (HIToolbox + 0x0008c08a)
# 33 0x96cbe763 in .objc_class_name_IPMDFontRange + 0x96994B43 (HIToolbox + 0x00007763)
# 34 0x96cbdb9d in .objc

 

[CyberTaz]

Well, I have no idea what the error log indicates - may as well be Sanskrit
as far as I'm able to interpret it - but the fact that it happens on
multiple systems does confirm that the problem is in the file itself. If you
can sort based on other columns of the data that further narrows it to being
a problem with that particular column.

I'd suggest that you first make sure you have Office fully updated (12.1.1)
as well as Leopard (10.5.4) and repair disk permissions on at least one of
the systems. If that corrects it then the others will need to be updated as
well. If that isn't the issue...

Exactly how are you doing the sort? What is the nature of the data that
column contains? Can you sort on the column to either side of that one?

My initial impression is that the column either contains merged cells - the
eventual certain death of virtually any sheet containing them - or that
there is at least one cell in the column containing corrupt data which can't
be parsed by the sort engine.

Depending on what the nature of the data in the column is you might try
copying it then use Paste Special> Values to put it back into the same
cells. Post back with the answers to the above questions if that doesn't
work or the nature of the data precludes it.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Pat McMillan]

If you could copy and paste the entire crash log and post it here, or send
directly to me it would be a big help in narrowing this down. Also, if
you're able to send me the exact file that you reproduce this on, that would
help too. Is there any chance you're sorting a column in a pivot table?

Thanks,

Pat
(e-mail address removed)