File submenu item NEW and OPEN grayed out

[katie]

When I open Excel97 and go to File to open a new or
existing worksheet, both New and Open buttons are gray.
How do I get these back and what caused it to happen?

 

[Dave Peterson]

Not sure what caused it, but you could try this to fix it:

First attempt:

Tools|Customize (just to have that dialog open)
click on Format
rightclick on New (then Open)
choose reset.
close up that dialog and try it out.

Second attempt:

Tools|Customize|Toolbars Tab|Select worksheet menu bar and click reset
close up that dialog and try it out.

Third attempt:
close excel
Windows Start Button|Find files
Look for *.xlb (where excel stores customized toolbars)
rename all you find to *.xlbOLD.

restart excel and try it out.

If it worked, then dump those *.xlbold files.


If you use the second attempt, then you'll have to reset any customizing you've
done to the worksheet menubar.

If you used the third vers, then you'll have to recreate any customized toolbar
changes you've made, though.