Personal.xls not opening with Excel

[Robert Christie]

Hi
I can't get my PERSONAL.XLS file to open with Excel
XP2002.
Have I created the file correctly,
1. Start Excel, - Book1 appears on screen.
2. Click on Record a Macro.
3. Select to save macro in Personal workbook.
4. Record a simple Macro, i.e. Select cell D2 enter
formula =2*4
5. Select Windows, Hide. Screen goes blank.
6. Exit Excel and when asked save changes to PERSONAL.XLS

A file called PERSONAL.XLS can be found in:
C;\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application
Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART
Opening Excel again, the macro can not be selected and
run.
Visual Basic Window does not include Project Personal
File.
The Windows menu only shows Hide.
Double clicking on the PERSONAL.XLS file will allow me to
unhide it or record more macro to it.
Is there a small box that should be checked or unchecked
somewhere.
Can anyone help.

TIA.

Bob Christie

 

[Dave Peterson]

Excel2002 has the abililty to quarantine what it thinks are bad workbooks--it
keeps track of them so that it doesn't even try to open them.

If you look under Help|About MS Excel, you'll see a button called: "Disabled
Items...".

Check under there to see if it's marked not to open. You can enable it there,
too.

If the workbook is really bad, you'll want to put your backup copy in XLStart.

 

[Robert Christie]

Thanks Dave
I found 2 Personal.xls files plus a file I deleted or
thought I deleted in a disc cleanup a month ago.
I restored one Personal.xls file, but the Personal.xls
did not reappear.
I restored the second Personal.xls file which cleaned out
the other normal xls file I "deleted" as well.
The Personal.xls still did not reappear although this
allowed me to create a new Personal.xls file.
When I restored the first Personal.xls, it also restored
my recent customised toolbar buttons.
The second Personal.xls restored in the same toolbar a
second set of an older set of customised buttons.
The return of the two sets of customizes buttons in my
tool bar this has given rise to more questions.
What is the full function of the Personal.xls file.?
which I thought just held the macros.
What is the full function of the Excel10.xlb file.? Which
I thought holds the screen layout, button layout, size &
color information etc.
Are the two linked.
Has restoring the 2 Personal.xls files also restored the
Excel10.xlb file as well.

TIA

Bob Christie

 

[Gord Dibben]

Bob

Toolbar and menu customizations are stored in the Excel.XLB file unless the
customizing is done "on the fly" with code in the Personal.xls file.

It doesn't sound like you are creating "on the fly".

I think you should re-name the *.XLB file and start over again with a clean
slate and only one Personal.xls file which you know to be a good one.

Then make your customizations, which will be stored in the new *.XLB file.

Screen layout, color info, checked Add-ins and many Tools>Options settings are
stored in the Registry, not in the *.XLB file.

To see some of what's stored in the Registry have a peek at this section in
it, if you feel comfortable.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel\Options

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Robert Christie]

Hi Gord and thankyou for the info.
I've completed your suggestions and backed up the files,
system running A OK at the moment. Will have a peek in
the registry later.

Thankyou, to you and Dave.

Bob Christie

 

[Gord Dibben]

Bob

Happy to hear you're AOK. "For the moment"<g>

Thanks for the feedback.

Gord