Color in Cells

[Dan]

I recently received a new laptop with Office 2003 Basic
installed. Went to site to activate and transferred some
spreadsheets that I've had from Office 2000.

The problem is that cells that I selected to change color
for appearance are now white. However the interesting
point is when the cell is selected and the property is
checked it shows the color the cell is supposed to have.
If I view the document in Print Preview the cells that
were colored show and print correctly but the display
shows these cells as white. Another interesting point is
that a few cells where I have summing whenever I insert a
number in one of the columns which will be summed the summ
occurs and the color appears in that cell. If I minimize
the page or go to another tab and come back that cell is
white again. The same happens when I change the 'tab'
color. It appears white even though the property
indicates the correct color. BTW cells that are white
have the property of white.

Is there some default or configuration setting that I am
not aware of in Excel 2003 that needs modified? I'm
confussed as to why with no formatting or conditions in
cells why one can not select a cell or range of cells and
change it's color? Whats wrong....any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Norman Harker]

Hi Dan!

See:

OFF: Changes to Fill Color and Fill Pattern Are Not Displayed
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=320531

1.. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Accessibility
Options.
2.. Click the Display tab, and then click to clear the Use High
Contrast check box.
3.. Click OK to close the Accessibility Options dialog box.

--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Dan

Just some additional information sort of related to this and not the source of
your problem. Norman has taken care of that.

"White" is not the default color for cells. "Automatic" is default.

If you color the cells "white", the gridlines will be wiped out.

I know, I know.....they look "white". But there is a difference.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

Norman

Thanks for the excellent tip. I knew it was something
simple but wasn't looking for it in the Accessibility
option. I looked all over the Excel options and
displays. Just when you think you have a good handle on
things they pull something to make one look silly.

Your suggestion did the trick and saved me many hours of
searching. It's greatly appreciated.

Have a great day.

Dan

 

[Norman Harker]

Hi Dan!

I know the feeling. I think it was Debra Dalgleish who discovered this
problem / solution. The trouble is that this High Contrast setting
looks and sounds like something that you must have. I think many users
will select it thinking that "higher" is better. Only later do they
hit problems and the solution is not one that is found intuitively.

--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.