[chris_wot]

Yes, well... try this one then:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/168702

Entitled "XL97: Data Not Returned from Query Using ORACLE Data Source", one of the solutions reads:

Method 2: Move Your Mouse Pointer

If you move your mouse pointer continuously while the data is being returned to Microsoft Excel, the query may not fail. Do not stop moving the mouse until all the data has been returned to Microsoft Excel.

I'm sure some large bank has employed a data operator to do this at some point. It's a job I guess.

[neurobro]

In case people think you were being sarcastic (and maybe you were), a large bank used to pay me $10/hour to push F11, F7, F7, F2 for the first 2-3 hours of each day.

[pbhjpbhj]

Can you explain further how that worked/helped the bank?

[neurobro]

That was the sequence to accept a security transfer and print the screen (hundreds a day). Then I would match the print-outs to trade confirmations and type the data back into a spreadsheet. Sort of a digital equivalent of digging a hole in the morning and filling it back up after lunch. It was supposed to be a temp job for a couple weeks until the fancy new system was ready, but I quit after 6 months.