In this article
CALL calls a procedure in a DLL or code resource. It is an old Excel 4.0 macro-era function, disabled by default for security and not usable from a normal worksheet cell in modern Excel.
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Syntax
=CALL(register_id, [argument1], ...)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
arguments |
Depend on the DLL or RTD server |
Examples
Example 1
=CALL(register_id, [argument1], ...)Result: (depends on the installed server). See the worked example table below for more cases.
CALL in practice
Where you will use it
- Understanding very old workbooks
- Developer integrations
- Auditing legacy files
Worked example
| Example | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| see syntax | =CALL(register_id, [argument1], ...) | (depends on the installed server) |
Needs external software, so it is not calculated here.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Expecting it to work out of the box | Needs the external server/DLL and trust settings |
| Security | Only use RTD servers and DLLs from trusted vendors |
Related functions
📚 Part of the free Excel course: Beginner → Expert · Try it in the Formula Lab or ask the AI Helper.
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