“Code execution has been interrupted”

Every now and then, while executing macro routines within Excel you may get the error message “code execution has been interrupted”.  This error message should only appear if you hit “Ctrl+Break” to stop the execution and view the code. But… sometimes it just happens, normally with no apparent reason.

If you hit the “Continue” button, the code will execute for a while, and may even finish, but you may get the same error message again. Sometimes you may even have to click the “continue” button several times to complete the execution of a macro.

This issue caused intermittent problems for me over a long period of time, that was until I found the solution.

To stop this, often re-occurring, problem all you have to do is add one line of code “Application.EnableCancelKey = xlDisabled” as the first line of your macro.

This should fix the problem and enable you to execute your macro code successfully without getting the dreaded error message “Code execution has been interrupted” again.

The above fix is fine for any projects being rolled out to a group of users. If you’re testing code and using “Ctrl+Break” this might be a hindrance. Another fix is, while In the debug window, press Ctrl+Break, this again fixes the issue.

Of course, the next time you press “Ctrl+Break” in the Excel window the problem may well come back!

I say should because this is not guaranteed :( I have had occasions when this does not work, rebooting the PC is the only other possible solution I’ve found.