I keep losing Toolbar buttons

[Guest]

I have a new install of Microsoft Office 2003. I have certain toolbar
buttons that I use in every worksheet that I create. Each time I add a new
button, close and then re-open Excel, my toolbar buttons that I added
disappear. Is there any way I can keep them and use them with every
worksheet I open?

 

[Dave Peterson]

Guess #1: You might have two *.xlb files fighting it out.

I'd close excel and search for *.xlb
(windows start button|search--be sure to look through hidden folders and for
hidden files).

If you have more than one, move them all to a different folder.

Then find out where your *.xlb should be stored.
For me, it's:
C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel

One way to do this is to start excel and make a minor modification to one of the
toolbars. Then leave excel and search for that newly created *.xlb file.

Then move all those *.xlb files into that folder -- one at a time and restart
excel.

When you find the toolbars you like, you have the correct *.xlb in the correct
spot. Delete all the others.

And back up that *.xlb file. If you ever screw it up, you can copy your backup
into that location.

 

[Guest]

This did not help. I had 2 .xlb files for Excel 10 and 1 for Excel 11. I
knew I didn't want to keep the two 10's so I deleted them. I then opened
excel, added the toolbar buttons I wanted and then saved the document as this
is a test.

I reopened the file and as soon as the text reappeared, my toolbars
disappeared again.

I opened a blank worksheet and they were no longer there. I added them
again to the blank worksheet, exited and then reopened and when I reopened
they disappeared again.

Any more help?

 

[Dave Peterson]

Maybe the one for xl2002 is in the wrong location.

find it. Move it to a nice location -- the desktop???

Then restart excel and create a new toolbar.

Close excel and reopen to test.

If it worked ok, close excel and find that new toolbar.
Move your toolbar from that nice location to its proper home.

(I've seen keeping a *.xlb in your XLStart folder fight (and win) with the
proper *.xlb file.)

 

[Guest]

Okie Dokie,

I did exactly what you said and again I started from the beginning and
worked my way through all of the steps.

I redid the search for *.xlb and came up with only one WIN2003 Excel. xlb
file. I move it to a nice location, tried to add a couple of toolbar buttons
and then I actually saved the document. The minute I open up Excel and that
particular document, the toolbar buttons disappear.

I opened up a blank Excel worksheet and added the toolbar buttons, I exited
and then opened excel again and again, the toolbar buttons disappear as soon
as the program opens entirely.

Please Help!

 

[Dave Peterson]

You say you moved the xl2003 toolbar file. Did you move the other *.xlb's,
too? (Get them all out of the way.)

If you try it (or tried it) and it didn't work, I don't have a guess.

Okie Dokie,

I did exactly what you said and again I started from the beginning and
worked my way through all of the steps.

I redid the search for *.xlb and came up with only one WIN2003 Excel. xlb
file. I move it to a nice location, tried to add a couple of toolbar buttons
and then I actually saved the document. The minute I open up Excel and that
particular document, the toolbar buttons disappear.

I opened up a blank Excel worksheet and added the toolbar buttons, I exited
and then opened excel again and again, the toolbar buttons disappear as soon
as the program opens entirely.

Please Help!

 

[Guest]

I did, I actually completely deleted the other .xlb files.

I am still having the problem. Is there anything else I can look at?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'd keep looking for *.xlb (I ain't giving up on that reply yet).

close excel
windows start button|run
cmd
and hit enter

At the command prompt, type:
C:
(use the drive that has excel installed)
cd\
(to get to the root folder.)

Dir *.xlb /s

And see if you find any that you didn't find before.

=====
And one more thing to check. Do you have write access to the drive/folder that
should be storing that toolbar file? (I've read some posts where IT departments
stop users from saving these kinds of things.)

I did, I actually completely deleted the other .xlb files.

I am still having the problem. Is there anything else I can look at?