Switching between windows in Excel 2004 (v11.5.3) and OS10.5.6

[Ken_Hosking]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have sought assistance for this problem earlier in these forums, but have had no success in curing the problem: Excel is not functioning properly in switching from one open spreadsheet to another. The typical symptom is that if I have several open spreadsheets running and I switch to another program, when I go back to Excel a different file, one of the the other files that are open, comes to the front of the stack. Invariably this file appears to be in background mode (indicator lights greyed out) but I cannot select another file until I have clicked on the foremost file, and even then Excel often refuses to show my original file until I have cycled through all of the open files. Then, but not always, as soon as I attempt an action on that file, it disappears into the background with one of the other files taking its place. This has got to the stage where it is almost impossible to operate Excel with more than one file open.

The behaviour is not associated with any particular files.

Attempts to bring a file forward by clicking on an exposed portion of a partially hidden file invariably fail. Often I have to resort to using command ~ to switch between files.

My machine has only one user account. The problem has been round for a few months, initially appearing about the same time as the widely reported problem with Excel refusing to accept data entries. That problem has not occurred for some time, but the screen issue remains.

Can anyone assist in resolving this irritating problem?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Ken -

I'm not sure what to suggest - I haven't experienced this nor have I seen
the problem addressed in this group. I searched for posts based on anyone
named "Ken" in the From: field & found nothing from you so I don't even have
an idea what corrective attempts you may have made previously. In order to
avoid repetition how about filling in those details?

Keeping in mind that windowing operations are primarily handled by the OS
make sure of the following:

1- Office should be updated to 11.5.3,
2- Apply the OS X Leopard 10.5.6 COMBO Update from the Apple Downloads site:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
3- Repair Disk Permissions using Disk Utility [or a comparable tool]
4- See if the problem persists if you log in while holding the Shift key

Once the playing field is level & you provide the requested history perhaps
some progress can be made It would also be helpful to know exactly what
methods you're using to switch between programs & to switch between document
windows - Command+~ isn't exactly something one need "resort" to, it's a
standard design feature of the OS.

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

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have sought assistance for this problem earlier in these forums, but have
had no success in curing the problem: Excel is not functioning properly in
switching from one open spreadsheet to another. The typical symptom is that if
I have several open spreadsheets running and I switch to another program, when
I go back to Excel a different file, one of the the other files that are open,
comes to the front of the stack. Invariably this file appears to be in
background mode (indicator lights greyed out) but I cannot select another file
until I have clicked on the foremost file, and even then Excel often refuses
to show my original file until I have cycled through all of the open files.
Then, but not always, as soon as I attempt an action on that file, it
disappears into the background with one of the other files taking its place.
This has got to the stage where it is almost impossible to operate Excel with
more than one file open.

The behaviour is not associated with any particular files.

Attempts to bring a file forward by clicking on an exposed portion of a
partially hidden file invariably fail. Often I have to resort to using command
~ to switch between files.

My machine has only one user account. The problem has been round for a few
months, initially appearing about the same time as the widely reported problem
with Excel refusing to accept data entries. That problem has not occurred for
some time, but the screen issue remains.

Can anyone assist in resolving this irritating problem?

You are not, by any chance, using Spaces, are you? If so, turn Spaces off.
Office 2008 does not work properly with Spaces.

 

[CyberTaz]

Yeah, but he's using 2004 Do you know of any correlation? I thought '04
did OK with Spaces but I don't use that feature of Leopard so I'm not sure.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Yeah, but he's using 2004 Do you know of any correlation? I thought '04
did OK with Spaces but I don't use that feature of Leopard so I'm not sure.

No, I never have used it either.

 

[Ken_Hosking]

Hi Bob, my earlier post is still there: <http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/Excel/3248/1>

Anyway, I have been working though your suggestions, firstly updating both Excel and OS 10 as suggested (although both were apparently up to date) but before moving on I disabled Spaces. (I don't use Spaces, never quite seen the point of this function, but the feature was enabled, probably by default since moving to OS10.5). So far the indications are that the problem may be resolved - for the first time in recent history I can move from workbook to workbook by clicking on exposed portions of any open spreadsheet , by using the menu bar as well as by using command ~. So far, when returning to Excel the same file that was on screen has remained there.

Many thanks for your assistance. I will send another post in a day or so, hopefully to confirm the solution.

 

[Ken_Hosking]

Yeah, but he's using 2004 Do you know of any correlation? I thought '04