Custom Animation button no longer loads CA task pane... HELP!

[Steve Harris]

I'm running VISTA / OFFICE PRO 2007 on a new Compaq notebook. I've been
building ppt lectures for an online math class, sailing along until yesterday
morning. Overnight the Custom Animation button (on the Animation ribbon) no
longer loads the Custom Animation task pane. It worked when I went to bed,
wouldn't work first thing the next morning.

I've been all over the web (Google) without seeing a similar problem. I've
removed and re-installed Office, with no change. The problem happens in any
ppt file I try to edit. I've also run files from my thumb drive on a
computer at work today, and the task pane appears there, so I'm sure the
issue is on my computer and not in the files themselves.

Specific symptom: when I am editing a slide presentation, and right-click
on a text line I know is animated, then click on Custom Animation, the
sequence bullets for the animation scheme I'm using appear on the slide, just
as before, but no Task Pane appears on my screen. Repeated clicking of the
Custom Animation button toggles the sequence numbers on and off, as should
happen.

I've spent about 15 hours trying to get the task pane restored... obviously
non-productive time. Has anyone seen this before, and / or can someone help?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Echo S]

I can think of two things.

1. Run Office Diagnostics. It's in Office Button | PPT Options | Resources.

2. Did you have another monitor attached? If you can, attach one and see if
the task pane has gotten dragged off the edge of the screen somehow.

 

[Steve Harris]

The task pane was minimized, and hiding behind the task bar on the bottom of
my Vista desktop. I just happened to try the Custom Animations button one
more time this morning and noticed a portion of the task bar got just a bit
lighter in color. I dragged on the lighter portion and up came the task
pane.

I feel a bit stupid, but it seems to me that there should be some kind of
indication that it was sitting down there. I've been using PPT full time for
a week since the task pane disappeared and nothing other than a slight change
in color gave a clue.

Hopefully someone else benefits from my pane pain.