Powerpivot - Can't insert formula that combines two or more different columns and keep getting message "unhandled exception has occurred in a component in your application...

Question

I am using powerpivot v2 with excel 2010.
When I go to my excel file's powerpivot and I try to insert a formula in any column, I constantly get the following message:
"unhandled exception has occurred in a component in your application. If you click continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue".
************** Exception Text **************
System.InvalidCastException: Return argument has an invalid type.
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.ValidateReturnArg(Object arg, Type paramType)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PropagateOutParameters(IMessage msg, Object[] outArgs, Object returnValue)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
   at Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel._Application.get_ActiveWorkbook()
   at Microsoft.AnalysisServices.XLHost.Addin.GeminiRibbon.currentClientWindow_InFormulaBarChanged(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Common.SandboxEditor.formulaBar_Leave(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.EventHandler.Invoke(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.UpdateFocusedControl()
Does anybody know how to fix this ?

Answer 1

Mark,
I used the Fix It found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2739501
I would have to ask my IT support person for more specifics, but as I understand the scenario with my particular laptop: the laptop came preloaded with RTM build of 2013.  We used Control Panel to uninstall Office 2013, in order to install Office
2010.  I installed PowerPivot add-in and used it successfully with no issues for several months.  After attempting to install another program and encountering issues with apparent traces left behind of Office 2013 uninstall, I found the link above
and used the Fix It to attempt to remove all remaining traces of Office 2013.  While it did appear to find and clean-up quite a bit left behind from the Office 2013 install, I was surprised to find an error upon entering my existing installation
of PowerPivot for 2010 and attempting to type new formulas into the formula bar.
My experience to-date is that an error message stating ""Return Argument Has an Invalid Type" appears anytime I select or modify a formula in the formula bar that would cause the intellisense to appear.  For example, when I first click into the formula
bar, I do not get an error...but as soon as I type the first letter, before the intellisense appears, I get the error message.  Throughout the remainder of the formula as I type, just prior to any time when the intellisense drop-down will appear
again, I get the same error message again (see details below).
At one time, although I can't reproduce it now, the error message did state ".Net Framework" in the menu bar of the error pop-up window.  I can't get that to appear again, as it now only says "PowerPivot for Excel".  Based on this, I had attempted
to see if I could repair my .NET framework install using the following tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30135
I learned, however, that since I am running Windows 8 which comes with .NET 4.5 built-in to the OS, this tool does not yet cover that version for repair.
While the overall end-result of my PowerPivot models appear to be just the same, having to click through "Continue" on the error message multiple times each time I enter a new formula is a huge drain on productivity.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
David
System.InvalidCastException: Return argument has an invalid type.
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.ValidateReturnArg(Object arg, Type paramType)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PropagateOutParameters(IMessage msg, Object[] outArgs, Object returnValue)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
   at Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel._Application.get_ActiveWorkbook()
   at Microsoft.AnalysisServices.XLHost.Addin.GeminiRibbon.currentClientWindow_InFormulaBarChanged(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Common.SandboxEditor.formulaBar_Leave(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.EventHandler.Invoke(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.UpdateFocusedControl()
David Duncan Consultant I.B.I.S., Inc.