Mac Excel 2008 Problem Using Excel 4.0 XLM Dialog Box Option Buttons

[Mike Middleton]

Mac OS X 10.5.6

Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5



(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)



I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in for
Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.



The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.



As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do respond
to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac Excel 2004.
But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks in Mac Excel
2008.



I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.



I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at



http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm



- Mike



Email (e-mail address removed)

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Mac OS X 10.5.6

Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5



(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)



I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in for
Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.



The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.



As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do respond
to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac Excel 2004.
But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks in Mac Excel
2008.



I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.



I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at



http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm



- Mike



Email (e-mail address removed)

My guess is that it's a bug. I'll report it and let you know if I hear
anything.

 

[Art]

Mac OS X 10.5.6

Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5



(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)



I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in for
Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.



The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.



As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do respond
to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac Excel 2004.
But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks in Mac Excel
2008.



I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.



I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at



http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm
[...]

Mike,

In examining your dialog box definition, I noticed that you do not
specify x,y, widths or heights for your items. Due to font size and
rendering differences on different Excel's and platforms, sometimes
letting Excel figure out the sizing is not a good idea.

I have found that check boxes, option group descriptors and radio
buttons are very picky about x/y positions, heights and widths as
overlaps can occur in the item descriptors.

What you might try is making the x/y for the radio buttons explicit and
give them a good spread, say 20-25 unit differences in height for
starters. Make sure that you account for this in the option group item
#11 descriptors' height and x/y.

HTH...

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Mac OS X 10.5.6

Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5



(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)



I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in for
Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.



The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.



As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do respond
to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac Excel 2004.
But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks in Mac Excel
2008.



I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.



I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at



http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm
[...]

Mike,

In examining your dialog box definition, I noticed that you do not
specify x,y, widths or heights for your items. Due to font size and
rendering differences on different Excel's and platforms, sometimes
letting Excel figure out the sizing is not a good idea.

I have found that check boxes, option group descriptors and radio
buttons are very picky about x/y positions, heights and widths as
overlaps can occur in the item descriptors.

What you might try is making the x/y for the radio buttons explicit and
give them a good spread, say 20-25 unit differences in height for
starters. Make sure that you account for this in the option group item
#11 descriptors' height and x/y.

HTH...

FYI, I already thought of that, and tried it with no luck. It appears to be
pretty definite bug with Excel 2008. The dialog works fine with all other
versions and platforms that I tried. Specifying x,y,w, and h is not usually
necessary.

 

[Mike Middleton]

Art -

The simple three-option example on my web site relies on automatic
positioning. But, alas, as I stated at the bottom of that web page (but not
in my newsgroup posting), "I have tried automatic positions for the items in
the option button group, various explicit spacings among the option buttons,
and various explicit widths for the option button text." I agree that
spacious spacings are generally needed. Thanks.

- Mike

Mac OS X 10.5.6
Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5

(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)

I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in
for Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.

The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.

As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do
respond to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac
Excel 2004. But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks
in Mac Excel 2008.

I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.

I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at

http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm
[...]

 

[Art]

Mac OS X 10.5.6

Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5



(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)



I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in for
Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.



The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.



As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do respond
to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac Excel 2004.
But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks in Mac Excel
2008.



I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.



I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at



http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm
[...]

Mike,

In examining your dialog box definition, I noticed that you do not
specify x,y, widths or heights for your items. Due to font size and
rendering differences on different Excel's and platforms, sometimes
letting Excel figure out the sizing is not a good idea.

I have found that check boxes, option group descriptors and radio
buttons are very picky about x/y positions, heights and widths as
overlaps can occur in the item descriptors.

What you might try is making the x/y for the radio buttons explicit and
give them a good spread, say 20-25 unit differences in height for
starters. Make sure that you account for this in the option group item
#11 descriptors' height and x/y.

HTH...

FYI, I already thought of that, and tried it with no luck. It appears to be
pretty definite bug with Excel 2008. The dialog works fine with all other
versions and platforms that I tried. Specifying x,y,w, and h is not usually
necessary.

FWIW - I have found that XLM "compatibility" in Excel v12 (2007 and
2008) seems to be rather limited. Custom menu bar functionality and
manipulation of the main menu bar are broken. Manipulating of "Picture
xx" objects also. I have been told there are many others.

It would be most helpful if there was a composite list of what
does/doesn't work or at least what was intentionally not carried
forward. The list on the Mactopia site ("My function doesn't work") for
2008 is rather limited. The list on the Microsoft TechNet site for
features removed for 2007 ("Charting: Printed Chart Size, Chart Window,
charts on dialog sheets, change chart type for multiple charts, and
support for XLM constants") is similarly limited.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Mac OS X 10.5.6

Mac Excel 2008 12.1.5



(Posted on microsoft.public.mac.office.excel and
microsoft.public.excel.programming)



I am using Excel 4 XLM macro programming language to develop an add-in for
Mac Excel 2008. The add-in design has several custom dialog boxes
(specified by dialog box definition tables). Most code and dialog box
functions work fine.



The immediate problem is an option button group. The group box and option
buttons display properly, but the option buttons do not respond to mouse
clicks in Mac Excel 2008. The option box specified in the initial/result
column of the definition table continues to be selected, and it is
impossible to select any one of the other option buttons in the group.



As far as I can tell, the dialog box, group box, option button group, and
option buttons have been specified correctly. The option buttons do respond
to mouse clicks in Windows Excel 97-2007, Mac Excel X, and Mac Excel 2004.
But the same XLM dialog box does not respond to mouse clicks in Mac Excel
2008.



I would like to know if this behavior is a bug or if there is something I
can do to get an option button group to work properly in Mac Excel 2008.



I have posted two examples of XLM code and corresponding add-ins at



http://www.mikemiddleton.com/Excel4XLM_OptionButtons.htm



- Mike



Email (e-mail address removed)

By any chance did you link the controls to a locked cell and then turn
protection on?

-Jim

 

[Mike Middleton]

Jim -

By any chance did you link the controls to a locked cell and then turn
protection on? <

I am using a definition table on an Excel 4 macro sheet to specify a dialog
box. As far as I know, there is no way to link this kind of dialog box item
(option button, option button group, or group box) to a cell. I posted a
simple example, the three-option dialog box macro sheet; by default, all
cells are locked; the macro sheet is not protected.

Strictly speaking, I am not using "controls." I think Form controls began in
Excel 5 and ActiveX controls in Excel 97. And, strictly speaking, I am not
creating a "user form." But, based on my limited testing, the Excel 4
feature of specifying a dialog box (using a definition table on an Excel 4
macro sheet) still seems to be supported on all Windows and Mac versions of
Excel, except that the option buttons do not work properly on Mac Excel
2008.

- Mike

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Mike,
I'm sorry I did not reply in more detail. I verify your problem. I tried
several alternatives and variations with no success. I have submitted the
issue to MacBU who have verified that it is indeed a problem with Excel
2008. However, there is no indication of when (or even if) it will be fixed.

 

[Mike Middleton]

Bob -

Thanks for the clarification. Please keep me posted.

- Mike

Email (e-mail address removed)