Auto-calculate cell values returned by Excel 4, ie =GET.CELL() formulas in Excel

Hello,

Is there a way to auto-calculate cell values returned by Excel 4, ie =GET.CELL() formulas in Excel?

I've been experimenting with Excel 4 formulas for a way to display Column widths and/or Row heights in Excel and took the following definitions:

6 Formula in reference, as text, in either A1 or R1C1 style depending on the workspace setting.

17 Row height of cell, in points.

42 The horizontal distance, measured in points, from the left edge of the active window to the left edge of the cell.
May be a negative number if the window is scrolled beyond the cell.

44 The horizontal distance, measured in points, from the left edge of the active window to the right edge of the cell.
May be a negative number if the window is scrolled beyond the cell.

Tip Use GET.CELL(17) to determine the height of a cell and GET.CELL(44) - GET.CELL(42) to determine the width.

...from the list of formulas posted here:
https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/20611-info-only-get-cell-arguments.html

Row 8 in the following screenshot, shows manual column-width settings for columns B:F and Row 3 shows column widths for the same columns as returned by the formula named LR_Width (see below):

The next screenshot includes the Name Manager in order to display definitions of the formulas in use which, for cells F1:F8, are manifest in column G by use of the formula named =zFormula.

The formulas work great until the width of one or more of the columns is changed — in which case, the Excel 4 formulas do not automatically update. In addition, found that clicking

Formulas menu > Calculate Now

is not recognized by the Excel 4 formulas as it would be by a typical Excel formula, e.g. =RANDBETWEEN().

The only way I could find to update the values was to click in the Formula Bar then press {Return} — and this process had to be repeated for each cell containing an Excel 4 formula. I was surprised by this result because I have been using =GET.CELL(6,F1) for many years and it has always auto-updated immediately when making a change to the referenced cell.

Am I missing something or is there a trick that will cause all the Excel 4 formulas to auto-update?

Thanks

WeThotUWasAToadAsked: 2017-11-23

Who is Participating?

LVL 23

AlanConsultantCommented: 2017-11-24

Hi WeThotUWasAToad,

To get the Excel4 macro functions to update you have two options (at least):

1) Do a manual 'full calculate' by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F9

2) Use VBA to do a 'full calculate', for example, whenever something changes on the worksheet by adding code to the worksheet module:

 Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)

    Application.CalculateFull

End Sub

Open in new window

Unfortunately, the latter won't be triggered by a change to a column width (for example), but if you change any cell contents (for example), then it will be.

You could also add that to any other worksheet event that you like (activate, selectionchange, whatever you like).

Alan.

LVL 56

Ryan ChongCommented: 2017-11-23

can you provide that excel sample file here as well?

WeThotUWasAToadAuthor Commented: 2017-11-24

Thanks for the responses.

Comment by: Ryan Chong
can you provide that excel sample file here as well?

Sorry about that Ryan. I was thinking the whole time while writing my OP that I would be attaching the file and then forgot to do it. Here it is:

2017-11-23_EE_Excel-4-formulas-.xlsm

Thanks, Steve

LVL 23

AlanConsultantCommented: 2017-11-24

Hi Steve,

Does that mean the above does not work for you?

If not, please post back with how it doesn't work, and what you need instead.

Thanks,

Alan.

WeThotUWasAToadAuthor Commented: 2017-11-24

Hey Alan, sorry about that. I did look at your comment when I was on earlier but then only had enough time to reply to one post. :P

Comment by: Alan
To get the Excel4 macro functions to update you have two options (at least):

I don't remember using that shortcut {Ctrl+Alt+F9} in the past so thanks for including it. I actually googled it looking for more info and came across the following on Microsoft's Excel shortcuts page (at https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Excel-keyboard-shortcuts-and-function-keys-for-Windows-1798d9d5-842a-42b8-9c99-9b7213f0040f):

— although I'm not sure why they specify "dependent" formulas in the last one since it seems like every formula is dependent on something.

Regarding your VBA solution, I don't think that would be as useful because I am specifically interested in seeing the current width setting of the column — including when it changes.

Therefore, you've given me a sort of semi-automatic solution which is not quite the same as fully-automatic but better than single-shot. :)

Thanks, Steve

LVL 23

AlanConsultantCommented: 2017-11-24

Yes, but F9 if insufficient whereas Ctrl-Alt-F9 is sufficient.

There is no need in your situation to go to Ctrl-Alt-Shift F9 - no harm, but it might take longer in some situations - mostly it is just another key to find :-).

Alan.