Excel crashes in Table Properties

Anonymous
2025-01-06T00:22:10+00:00

I use PowerQuery quite a bit together with Excel (Microsoft 365).

Excel has started crashing whenever I access Table Design / Properties for a table created by PowerQuery.

This is the scenario:

    • Put cursor in the table
    • Click Table Design menu
    • click "Properties" (which is present in the "External Data Table" section of the ribbon). [Note: Properties will be greyed out for an ordinary table - AFAIK, it's only accessible for a Table created by PQ.]
    • make some change in the window that pops up

In all existing workbooks, and even a brand new one I create, following Step 3 (or sometimes Step 4) Excel crashes - and it usually restarts. So, the properties function under Table Design is inaccessible!

What could be causing this? How to fix it?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | Other | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-02-17T06:28:37+00:00

    I have the same issues, seems support also cant seem to help: When going into an excel document with active connection, as soon as I select the table or connection itself and press properties then excel stop responding. Anyone having a resolution for this?

    Already tried al the overall actions line repair, safe mode, disabling add ins, setting up clean connection, re-installation, check licensing etc.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-02-05T10:07:52+00:00

    I've worked through all your suggestions Damin_W, one by one... (it's taken around an hour).

    Unfortunately every attempt has resulted in Excel crashing and restarting.

    Sometimes the crash happens on opening the Table - External Data Properties dialog, other times when I change a property (tick Preserve column sort/filter/layout) then OK and one occasion just when the dialog box was open and I was doing nothing!

    There always seems to be a time delay (3 to 8 seconds).

    The macro suggested by okshef works fine.

    My Excel version is 2501 (Build 18429.20132) and I am using MSQuery to connect to a SQL Server database.

    IMHO MSQuery works much better than power query - especially if you need to use parameters, so I am dismayed if this is a Microsoft attempt to stop use of MSQuery. I would love it if it was updated!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-29T21:02:03+00:00

    Fantastic okshef! Thanks - I didn't have time to look into that bit. Very useful. Just hope that Microsoft take note and get the bug fixed soon.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-29T18:15:58+00:00

    Thanks okshef 👍😊

    It does indeed work: testing was a pain as just looking at the properties crashes the spreadsheet.

    Having this workaround is a lifesaver ... until the Excel team at Microsoft sort the bug out.

    I tried and failed - with my VBA (lack of) knowledge the bit that I was missing was the right object

    Selection.ListObject

    Thanks again

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-01-27T14:29:43+00:00

    I have the same scenario as Tristan: Microsoft Query pulling from SQL dB.

    However, the property that I am trying to change is "preserve column sort/filter/layout" which is not available when accessed via Data-Queries&Connections unfortunately.

    Even cancelling out of the Data-Properties box causes a crash. Very frustrating

    For me, this type of operation was common and no problem. Yes, I agree Microsoft has introduced a bug - it would be great if they would fix it.

    Has anyone tried changing the query properties through VBA?

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