Fix Excel Error: Unable to Get Property getVersion of Undefined or Null Reference
Question details
The user needs to resolve an error where Excel displays an 'Unable to get property get Version of undefined or null reference' message, which often leads to an application crash involving mshtml.dll.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Loading an Excel dashboard, opening workbooks with web/ActiveX components, or importing/refreshing data via Power Query.
- Observed behavior
- Excel displays a null reference error message and may abruptly crash, throwing an Exception code 0xc0000005 in the mshtml.dll module as recorded in the Windows Event Viewer.
Before modifying column types or disabling application add-ins, create a backup copy of your Excel workbook to prevent accidental data loss during troubleshooting.
Format Source Data Columns to Number Type
Resolve data parsing conflicts by explicitly setting columns with numeric values and blank cells to the Number data type instead of leaving them as General.
When Excel or Power Query processes a dashboard, a column formatted as 'General' containing numbers mixed with blank cells can cause null reference errors. Forcing a strict numeric data type prevents the rendering engine from misinterpreting empty values.
Open the source data worksheet or launch the Power Query Editor where your dashboard draws its information.
Highlight the columns that contain numeric values but have empty or blank cells interspersed.
Go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon, locate the 'Number' group, and change the format drop-down from 'General' to 'Number'.
If using Power Query, right-click the column header, select 'Change Type', and choose 'Whole Number' or 'Decimal Number'.
Save your changes and click 'Refresh All' on the Data tab to update the dashboard without errors.
Run Excel in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins
Determine if a conflicting third-party add-in or legacy web component is responsible for the mshtml.dll crash.
Repair the Microsoft Office Installation
Fix corrupted Office program files or mshtml.dll dependencies by running a Quick or Online Repair.
Avoid Complex Dashboard Crashes with WPS Office
If Microsoft Excel continues to crash due to web components, outdated ActiveX controls, or add-in conflicts, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and analyzing your spreadsheets without the heavy resource overhead that often triggers mshtml.dll errors.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer to your computer.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx dashboard files directly without importing.
- 3. Analyze Data Safely: Use WPS Spreadsheets' robust data formatting and pivot tools to manage your data safely without legacy component crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel crash with an mshtml.dll error when opening a dashboard?
The mshtml.dll crash often occurs when an Excel dashboard relies on legacy web components, outdated ActiveX controls, or encounters incompatible source data types (like unexpected nulls) that cause the HTML rendering engine to fail abruptly.
How do blank cells cause the 'get Version of undefined' error?
When numeric columns contain blank cells and are formatted as 'General', Excel or Power Query may misinterpret the data structure during dashboard rendering. The code attempts to read properties of an empty cell expecting an object, leading to a null reference exception. Changing the format explicitly to 'Number' resolves this ambiguity.
What should I do if Safe Mode doesn't stop the null reference error?
If the error persists even in Excel Safe Mode, the issue is likely rooted in the source data itself or a corrupted dashboard component rather than an add-in. Review your data tables, ensure all columns have explicit data types assigned, replace missing values, and test each component of the dashboard separately.
