Microsoft Excel does not update my recently used files.

[SteveLigard]

In Excel, the list of most recently used files is never updated. I can save a
file in Excel, close the application, then upon reopening the Excel
application, the program will display the same list which has remained
unchanged in 6 months. regardless of which Excel files I open and close, the
most recent list never becomes updated. In the options menu, I can change
the number of most recent files to any number, but upon open in excel in
reverts back to 9 files. I experimented with Word, and the most recent files
option works just fine, therefore my problem only exists in Excel.

Any ideas?

 

[challa prabhu]

Hi,

1. Click the Start button on the task bar.
2. Point to My Recent documents and select the file.

-or-

Do the following:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
The Options dialog box appears.
2. In the Option dialog box, click the Save tab.
3. Under Settings, select the Save AutoRecover Info every check box.and then
enter a timing in minutes in the Save AutoRecover Info text box, or click the
arrow to select a time.
4. In the Auto Recover Save location, accept the default path location, or
enter a path for the new location.
5. Click OK.

Note: Make sure that the file is saved in the location you have specicifed.


Challa Prabhu

 

[SteveLigard]

I have reverted to using "My Recent Documents" to obtain my Excel File useage.

When I use the Tools menu option in Excel,
Any changes I make under the Save tab are lost when I reopen Excel,
The same issue happens on the Tools>General tab when I change the "Recently
used file list" (for example) from 3 to 9. The changes are lost when I
reopen Excel.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Excel's recently used file list setting is saved in the Registry.

Perhaps you have no permission to write to the Registry.

Setting can be found here..................

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options

In right-side window under DefFileMRU 0x00000003 (3) is the number changing when
you make a change under Tools>Options then close Excel?

A change to 9 in Tools>Options should give you a change to 0x00000009 (9)


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[SteveLigard]

I think we are getting closer......
I checked my permission in the Registry Editor, and I do have full control
permissions.

I did a test where I changed both the Recently used file list and Default
file location in Excel Tools>Options> General tab

The Registry did not update the changes I make in Excel for "Recently used
file list" however it did update the registry for the "Default file location".
So therefore some item are updated in the registry but nothing pertainig to
Recently used files" ???

 

[Gord Dibben]

Steve

Try working backwards.

With Excel closed out and registry open to the Excel Options try right-click on
the DefFileMRU and "modify".

Change to (5) and close.

Re-start Excel. What is your setting in Tools>Options?

BTW..........which version of Excel are you running?


Gord

 

[Gord Dibben]

Steve

Try running this macro to clear the MRU list then reset to 3

Sub toggle_MRU()
With Application
.RecentFiles.Maximum = 0
End With
With Application
.RecentFiles.Maximum = 3
End With
End Sub

Open several files from File>Open and see if they show up on the MRU list.


Gord

 

[SteveLigard]

I discovered that the issue relates to an add-in I had added to Excel.
When I removed the add-in, The Recent files list functioned normally. When I
put the add-in back, the the recent files list did not update properly.
I solved the problem by removing the add-in.
Thanks for the help.
Steve

 

[Gord Dibben]

Thanks for posting back with the fix.

Could you share the name of the add-in for google archives, please?


Gord