Problems with PERSONAL.XLS

[Branden]

I have a number of custom macro's in my PERSONAL.XLS
file. I've been using them without problem for some time.
Something has happened this morning and my common macros
from my PERSONAL.XLS are no longer loading. I'm using
office XP. Here are some things I have checked:

1. the PERSONAL.XLS file is in the c:\documents and
settings\GLH\application data\microsoft\excel directory
as always
2. when I open excel I don't see the macros. If I go to
the window menu and to unhide the personal.xls workbook,
I notice that the unhide option is disabled, as though it
is not opening.
3. if i open the personal.xls file manually, the macro's
are available and run fine.
4. I have checked the Tools > Options > General tab and
verified that the "At Startup, Open Files In" edit box is
empty, as it should be by default.
5. I do have a book1.xls workbook in the same xlstart
folder that loads some other defaults (such as headers
and footers) and it continues to load just fine
6. I have copied the macros from my personal.xls into a
new spreadsheet and renamed them, thinking that
personal.xls may have been corrupted in some way, but
that didn't work either.
7. I've checked to make sure that my shift key wasn't
sticking when opening up excel, realizing that such a
problem might bypass loading the personal.xls file

Any ideas why the personal.xls would not open when I open
excel? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Andy Brown]

It needs to be in the XLSTART folder.

Rgds,
Andy

 

[Ken Wright]

And one way to see that is to rename your Personal.xls to something else, and then do a search to
be absolutely sure there is no other personal.xls anywhere. Now record a keystroke or something
in Excel and choose to store it in your personal macro workbook. Now go do a search on
Personal.xls. When you find it, and as already advised it should be in XLSTART, rename your
original personal.xls and replace the one you just found.

 

[joelshults]

A co-worker of mine was having a similar problem with a macro that I had written. After working correctly for some time it had all of a sudden stopped opening when she started Excel. What I eventually found to be the problem was that Excel had (for some unknown reason) disabled the file.

This can be resolved by going to "Help" --> "About Microsoft Office Excel" in the Excel toolbar. Then clicking on the "Disabled Items..." button at the bottom and re-enabling the files listed in the box.

This took me some time to find, so I just wanted to post it here on this board in case anyone else had a similar problem.

Joel Shults

 

[zamiv]

I have a related problem:
personal.xls and xla files open properly if excel is started, but neither load if an xls file is "double clicked" to open the app. Files are in the right place, and are not disabled. They all work fine, but they just don't open if when you inititate Excel via a workbook rather than via the app directly. I checked, and there are no startup options on the shortcut or file type, nor do the sheets open and then close...mystified...someone must know the simple answer...
Thanks