Extend Selection Won't Turn Off

We've had this happen on several diff computers. The extend selection gets
turned on, from what I've been able to determine they do not press the F8.
They are simply entering data and then use the mouse to select a different
cell but it's anchored to the cell they were editing. Where ever they move
the mouse (up, down, right or left) it mearly selects cells, the menu items
and toolbar buttons can cannot be selected/clicked.

Pressing F8, Esc, Scroll lock don't clear the anchor.

I've had to end task on Excel (loosing data), delete the excell11.xlb file
(this I discovered through trial and error) and reboot the computer in order
to clear the anchor. Why the toolbar file should be effecting this I don't
know. But without deleting that file it doesn't clear.

We have one person this happens to quite frequently any ideas would be helpful

 

Any chance it's a sticky mouse.

Try banging gently on the buttons (including the wheelmouse button if you have
one).

If that doesn't help, how about swapping (temporarily???) mouses (mice???).

 

Dave~

We have all optical mice, we're talking ~10 computers of 200 have reported
the problem - our people don't use Excel alot. Some have reported the
problem only once, if it's a bad mouse that would also show up in other areas
and we haven't had to replace their mice. Good thought though any others?

~Lori

 

And nothing good happened when the problem occurred and you banged on the
buttons.

 

Dave~

I've had it happen on my computer - once. Trust me, banging the mouse or on
the keyboard did nothing. And knowing my users as I do, the banging I did on
my equipment was nothing compared to what some of them can do. (apparently
it's quite easy to crack the screen on a blackberry....)

We've looked into sticky keys on keyboards as well, not a problem.

It happened some time ago for me, I'm in Excel quite a lot - my happy place
you know - and it hasn't happened since. Still have the same mouse and
keyboard, both work fine.

Users haven't reported any other problems related to the mouse, so no, I do
not believe this to be a mouse issue.

~Lori

 

I have heard that mouse drivers can cause this

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/ghosting.txt

--


Regards,


Peo Sjoblom

 

This has happened (and I expect will happen) to me on a very rarely
basis. I have never recalled how it started nor have been able to
replicate it.

In almost every case, I've gotten out of it by switching to another
application's window and switching back. On one (or was it two?)
occasions I have to restart Excel. Luckily, it has never required any
more work.

As Peo mentioned, you might want to check if an updated (or earlier)
mouse driver has any effect.

 

Peo~

I've been meaning to thank you for the information. My chronic user hasn't
reported since I deleted the xlb file. But I took a look at the posting and
compiled a checklist for the next time it happens.

~Lori

 

Peo~

Found another possibility. I think the user may be turning the sticky keys
feature on.

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/stickykeys.aspx

Most of our PCs don't have sound and you know how people can tend to bang
away on keys. We're still keeping our eyes on this but thought I'd pass the
information along.

~Lori

 

Peo~

Thank you again.

Another user called with the same problem and I ran down my checklist and
activating the draglog of the wheelmouse and the turning it off did the trick!

~Thank you again
Lori