why would the merge box in the format cells menu be greyed out

[Guest]

I was given a formated spreadsheet and needed to make changes. One change
was to merge a few cells. when I opened the format cells menu the merge
cells check box was greyed out. I can't find how to enable this function.

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

If the workbook is shared, you won't be able to merge cells.

To turn off sharing, choose Tools>Share Workbook, and remove the check
mark from 'Allow changes by more than one user at a time.'

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply Debra, but the workbook indicates that it is allowing
changes by more than one user.

 

[Dave Peterson]

That's the problem. By allowing multiple people to update the file (also known
as sharing the file), there are features that aren't available.

You have to decide to unshare the workbook (like Debra wrote) or decide to not
merge anymore cells.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Dave. I had not seen this happen before and have used files people
sent to me.