Keyboard Shortcut Conflicts

[livetohike]

Sorry for the multiple questions, but I feel they are all related.

I don't like using Shft-F2 to edit comments so I customized the
toolbar to include an Insert/Edit button. The button's shortcut
defaults to Alt-m to inset a comment (works great) and Alt-E (Alt-Shft-
E) to edit an existing comment (does not work).

Instead Alt-Shft-E opens the main Edit menu (which also has the E
underlined to denote a shortcut). The main Edit menu also opens with
just Alt-E or Shft-E.

1) How do I get my Edit Comment shortcut to work?

2) Why do Alt-E and Alt-Shft-E, and Shft-E open the main Edit menu?

3) In general, how does Excel resolve these keyboard assignment
conflicts (I see that there are many between toolbar buttons and the
main menu?

4) I am reluctant to assign my own keyboard shortcuts to buttons,
macros, etc. since it appears that there is no way to have MS apps
show you the ones that conflict w/ the application defaults, thus
enabling you to redefine something important.


Thanks

 

[Dave Peterson]

You could change the Edit menu by removing the accelerator key (alt-e or alt-E).

But that means that you wouldn't be able to use that shortcut to get to the edit
menu.

If you want to try:
Tools|Customize (just to see that dialog)
rightclick on the Edit option on that menu bar
Change the name from &Edit to Edit
(drop the ampersand (&))

Then close up that dialog and test your macro's shortcut key.

===
I have no idea how or why MS implements both alt-e and alt-E as the accelerator
key. (BTW, shift-E didn't activate that Edit icon.)

A long time ago, I found that l (ell), q, and t were not used by excel. But
that was probably xl95 or xl97.

You may find that it's easier to give yourself a toolbar to run your macros.

Here's how I do it when I want a toolbar:
http://www.contextures.com/xlToolbar02.html
(from Debra Dalgleish's site)

For additions to the worksheet menu bar, I really like the way John Walkenbach
does it in his menumaker workbook:
http://j-walk.com/ss/excel/tips/tip53.htm