Problem inserting Cells -- Error message

[AJR257]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel Hi, I have a current spreadsheet that I want to move down and insert some new information. It is a running annual log of work and I want to insert 2010 above 2009 figures.
When I click on either a cell or a row from the margin and right-click 'insert' I get a message: "cannot shift objects of sheet".
I know of nothing fixed or any other problems with this file. The Excel file does contain multiple sheets and I get the same problem with each sheet.
Could be an age-old problem but I cannot find it on the forum so apologies if this has already been answered.
Thanks for any help
Andy R

 

[CyberTaz]

The message indicates that Excel has reason to believe there is content in
the bottom edge of the sheet, and it's usually right It doesn't have to
be in a cell. It could be some sort of graphic object 'on' the sheet, and it
doesn't even have to be visible to you.

One common cause is pasting content from elsewhere -- especially if the
content was copied from a web page. All kind of stuff can actually get
copied & winds up being flung all over the place when pasted. It can also be
caused by repeated insertion of Rows which just keeps forcing used cells &
other content further down on the sheet until it finally gets to the bottom
edge. The cells being shifted down may have appeared to be empty but may not
be. As they get forced out of the active area of the sheet -- well, "out of
sight, out of mind" as the adage goes.

Regardless of how it came to be, try selecting a Row below your active
workspace, then key Shift+Command+Down Arrow to select the rest of the sheet
from there on down. Go to the Edit menu & select Delete [the Delete key
won't do it], then try inserting your rows again.

If that doesn't correct it try copying just the wanted content and pasting
into a new sheet in a new workbook to see if the same problem occurs there.

 

[AJR257]

Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply to my post.
I had already thought of this and done exactly what you suggest both to the right and below my content.
Having said that I have just tried it again using the 'delete' menu option just to make sure.
Unfortunately it still does not allow me to insert cells.
I have now cut/copied my content to a new Excel file and this seems fine. I have not a clue what the problem is. Do you want to see the file for your research?
Many thanks for your assistance anyway.
Andy R

The message indicates that Excel has reason to believe there is content in
> the bottom edge of the sheet, and it's usually right It doesn't have to
> be in a cell. It could be some sort of graphic object 'on' the sheet, and it
> doesn't even have to be visible to you.
>
> One common cause is pasting content from elsewhere -- especially if the
> content was copied from a web page. All kind of stuff can actually get
> copied & winds up being flung all over the place when pasted. It can also be
> caused by repeated insertion of Rows which just keeps forcing used cells &
> other content further down on the sheet until it finally gets to the bottom
> edge. The cells being shifted down may have appeared to be empty but may not
> be. As they get forced out of the active area of the sheet -- well, "out of
> sight, out of mind" as the adage goes.
>
> Regardless of how it came to be, try selecting a Row below your active
> workspace, then key Shift+Command+Down Arrow to select the rest of the sheet
> from there on down. Go to the Edit menu & select Delete [the Delete key
> won't do it], then try inserting your rows again.
>
> If that doesn't correct it try copying just the wanted content and pasting
> into a new sheet in a new workbook to see if the same problem occurs there.
>
> --
> HTH |:>)
> Bob Jones
> [MVP] Office:Mac
>
> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...

> > Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel
> > Hi, I have a current spreadsheet that I want to move down and insert some
> > new information. It is a running annual log of work and I want to insert
> > 2010 above 2009 figures.
> > When I click on either a cell or a row from the margin and right-click
> > 'insert' I get a message: "cannot shift objects of sheet".
> > I know of nothing fixed or any other problems with this file. The Excel
> > file does contain multiple sheets and I get the same problem with each
> > sheet.
> > Could be an age-old problem but I cannot find it on the forum so apologies
> > if this has already been answered.
> > Thanks for any help
> > Andy R

>
>

 

[AJR257]

Hi again,
Further info to my previous post...
If I CUT the whole sheet by clicking on the diamond in the top left corner and highlighting it, and paste it to a new file it is also fine and allows me to insert rows....
This seems strange if there should be something at the bottom of the sheet you would think it will copy over as well.
Thanks again.
Andy R

 

[CyberTaz]

Glad you were able to get it resolved. Apparently there was some sort of
corruption in the original file.

Thanks for the offer, but I really don't have the resources to to that type
of analysis... Even if I did it may still not determine the cause. We'll
just have to file that in the 'Stuff Happens' bin

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply to my post.
I had already thought of this and done exactly what you suggest both to the
right and below my content.
Having said that I have just tried it again using the 'delete' menu option
just to make sure.
Unfortunately it still does not allow me to insert cells.
I have now cut/copied my content to a new Excel file and this seems fine. I
have not a clue what the problem is. Do you want to see the file for your
research?
Many thanks for your assistance anyway.
Andy R

The message indicates that Excel has reason to believe there is content in
the bottom edge of the sheet, and it's usually right It doesn't have to
be in a cell. It could be some sort of graphic object 'on' the sheet, and it
doesn't even have to be visible to you.

One common cause is pasting content from elsewhere -- especially if the
content was copied from a web page. All kind of stuff can actually get
copied & winds up being flung all over the place when pasted. It can also be
caused by repeated insertion of Rows which just keeps forcing used cells &
other content further down on the sheet until it finally gets to the bottom
edge. The cells being shifted down may have appeared to be empty but may not
be. As they get forced out of the active area of the sheet -- well, "out of
sight, out of mind" as the adage goes.

Regardless of how it came to be, try selecting a Row below your active
workspace, then key Shift+Command+Down Arrow to select the rest of the sheet
from there on down. Go to the Edit menu & select Delete [the Delete key
won't do it], then try inserting your rows again.

If that doesn't correct it try copying just the wanted content and pasting
into a new sheet in a new workbook to see if the same problem occurs there.

--
HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

wrote in message

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel
Hi, I have a current spreadsheet that I want to move down and insert some
new information. It is a running annual log of work and I want to insert
2010 above 2009 figures.
When I click on either a cell or a row from the margin and right-click
'insert' I get a message: "cannot shift objects of sheet".
I know of nothing fixed or any other problems with this file. The Excel
file does contain multiple sheets and I get the same problem with each
sheet.
Could be an age-old problem but I cannot find it on the forum so apologies
if this has already been answered.
Thanks for any help
Andy R

 

[XinXin]

Hi Andy, can you send your file to Microsoft (xinxin@microsoft)? I'd be happy to take a look at your workbook.

Thanks,
XinXin Liu
Macintosh Business Unit, Microsoft

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