Excel 2010: Sort is slower and causes errors after MS12-030

After you install MS12-030 (Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel could allow remote code execution - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2663830) you may see an error message or have slow performance when sorting data in a worksheet.

The�Sort may fail with the following error and then Excel can be unstable due to lack of resources.



On 64 bit Excel 2010 the sort may finish but will take a considerably longer time to finish the sort.�

Depending on the number of rows selected you may see the following alert.

This problem happens when you select all of the cells in the worksheet (clicking the Select All button�or ctrl+a to select all cells) or entire rows of cells before you sort your data.�

Note: Microsoft does not recommend choosing the Select All button before sorting. When Select All Button is chose the user is selecting over 17 billion cells.�

Microsoft is currently investigating this issue to be addressed in futue Cumulative Update HotFix.�

You can find the latest Cumulative Updates for Office and what issues were fixed in them using the following KB article.

953878�Cumulative updates are available from the Microsoft Office team to fix reported problems
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953878/EN-US

Installing the latest CU for Excel will resolve the issue�with sorting.

2598378 Description of the Excel 2010 hotfix package (excel.msp, graph.msp): June 26, 2012

A best practice when sorting is�allow Excel to automatically detect your sort range by placing your mouse cursor in the table and selecting sort. You can also use ctrl+* (ctrl+shift+8) to have Excel select the current region before sorting. If your range has empty rows or columns in it you may need to select the specific range manually before sorting.

Note: If you have a Defined Name 'Database' Excel will select that range rather than auto detecting the current region.


If you are sorting�cells in a VBA macro you should specify the range of cells to be sorted in your code.

291308 How to select cells/ranges by using Visual Basic procedures in Excel
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291308/EN-US

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