Subject: C. Location: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/ghosting.txt Abstract of symptoms: (ghosting of cells from another sheet) Ghosting of cells from another sheet, stuck/sticky cells, multiple cells "appear" to be selected, cell that appears selected may not be same as cell address shown in name box. Parts of the gridlines may appear to be missing or not line up -- that is because you actually see parts of another sheet at least in some cases. Initially most people who reported such problems had just installed a wheel mouse but there is nothing that is absolutely common. Not everybody had a wheel mouse, for instance. (By now most people have a wheel mouse) First Make sure that you have a problem: The use of Extend which you will see an EXT or ADD in the lower right corner is a feature of Excel and is not a problem. Select a cell, hit F8, then select another cell to select a range, selecting another cell will change the range but will continue to use the selected cell in the corner. To turn off hit F8. The selected cell is usually the cell selected when you first hit F8, but tabbing can change that. More information about the Status Bar see http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/statusbar.htm#statusbar I think you would recognize an actual stuck key, but I suppose you should check keyboard for that also. A stuck key indication when rebooting would be unmistakeable. Ghosting has also been reported as transparency through to the desktop as opposed to transparency through to other sheets (ghosting). http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=3AF16554.C209FF%40iinet.net.au 1. AltTab forward to next Windows application several times 2. Running in code or from the debug window application.cutcopymode=false 3. Removal of value set in Alternate Startup location in Tools, Options, General Continuing with the more normally seen transparency (ghosting) through to other sheets or sppearace of cell selection by only moving the cursor without selecting continue with rest of this article below: ... Some of these may help (sometimes). - Ctrl+PageUp then Ctrl+PageDn which is the simplest thing to try. It will select the sheet tab to the left then back the sheet where you started. This works even if the active tab is not visible, but is faster than using the mouse anyway. Run up and down the entire range of the sheet tabs. - move title bar so you can click on restore/maximize window button on the title bar. Also restores hidden horizontal scroll bar that should not be hidden. - click on the cell number shown in the name window to left of the formula bar. - resize a column width, particularly of a column showing a cell with a false selection frame. - click on cells in the actual sheet(s) that the ghosted cells actually belong to. You may have to run a macro to do this. - Select ALL sheets and then select cell A1. Then do not forget to ungroup sheets or you will risk severe damage to all of your sheets. RClick on a sheet tab then Select all sheets, or ungroup sheets. - right-click button (usually doesn't work for me, works for Leo Heuser). - click on mousewheel and scroll around to far boundaries with that feature and then back, reclick to turn off feature.  (best success) - click on mousewheel to deactivate DragLock, though not a ghosting problem, may be experienced by some (see 2002-01-24 far below) - sheets with lots of hyperlinks usually are the sheets that ghost images appear from. Particularly avoid this one which had been nice to identify the last sheet that changes were made to if a recalculation had not occurred. =CELL("filename") which otherwise was normally misuse of =CELL("filename",A1) both exactly as typed. - remote keyboards, have batteries, someone had problems with "sticky keys" solved by replacing battery in keyboard. - You will usually see it on the first sheet you see when you open the file, though it may not be the last sheet updated. - Seems to happen sometimes after selection of a group of cells, updating that sheet with a selection and then deleting another sheet, and closing file. - Try turning off calculation, Tim Altom indicated he could turn off the ghosting by turning off calculation in a workbook that suddenly started ghosting. - Try unplugging and reattaching USB mouse (Chip Pearson). It is generally safe to reattach USB devices while powered up, and the same for any laptop connection, after all things are more likely to become accidentally unplugged on a laptop than on a desktop. If in reattching mouse you get a message about found new software -- unplug again and reattach. - Print or bookmark this list because if you had the problem once you will have it again. ---- What usually seems to fix is the hit the restore window, then hit the Maximize, both in the upper right corner. Problem with Excel being brought up completely transparent showing the desktop below. Had a word document with 45 point 28 point Helvetica, and a 10 pt Helvetica Narrow. It took hours to print 11 pages. When I shut down the Word document, Excel came up okay; but I decided to reboot since I had just started preparing to do that anyway. From: "David McRitchie" References: <#KyDg4Vi$GA.1772@cppssbbsa06> Subject: Re: May have a solution to sticky pointer Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 18:17:21 -0500 Hi Jim, (posted to misc) Thread began: http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&ic=1&selm=an_594664964 Okay I've been able to verify that the ghosting problem is kind of a superset of the sticky cursor problem you describe. Frequently I would have more than two cells appearing as selected, except last time. Pressing the wheel button and scrolling off the original area and back appears to fix on that page, but then you must identify the other page and do same there. (actually went past last column). Clicking the right mouse button as Leo suggests did nothing for me. Probably started happening with Intellimouse (wheel mouse), which appears to be a common theme in this thread except not mentioned by Leo. Some more indications that you MIGHT see (add to my previous list). 1) initial sheet shows no cell number in name box. 2) initial sheet shows a cell number in name box, but none is shown as selected until you point to a cell. 3) When you first point to a cell the other cell selected is a cell on another sheet. 4) The book I have a problem with currently has 138 sheets, it had more, it's had it's sheet tabs sorted, it has lots of links (a link to each page). 5) The ghoster sheet has always been to the right (created earlier). **6) Horizontal scroll bar missing, but can be recovered by restore button (minimize/restore/close) then select on title bar then press maximize button (minimize/maximize/close). I'd say mine is a superset of what you describe as I've seen more than two selection boxes and I have ghosting of contents from other sheets, sometimes the entire sheet is ghosted onto another. The indication on the first page viewed was your "sticky" cursor (two selected independent) cells. The indication on the second screen was that it had the selection that was fixed on first page AND the gridlines do not match the column headers. Fixup (temporary) the same use middle button on wheel mouse. -------------------------------------- Causes of Problem: Since the problem can not be produced at will it can't be seriously worked on getting a fix from Microsoft, but I think the following at least contribute to the problem. This "might" make it happen. Actually intended more for it it happens to show a large selection from another sheet. On sheet with a lot of links, G2: =Cell("filename") to show the last updated sheet etc. F1:J7 simply make a large selection, just for fun insert a new sheet in front of leftmost sheet above, an on it: E8: b E9: simply select then close file, and reopen using shortcut from Windows Start menu to this file. on by desktop. delete the G2 cell after all fixing up is done. ================================= Another suspect is obtaining file properties in VBA and possibly the additional use of Volatile with such requests =property("Creation Date") ================================= An additional "might" make it happen. (not posted 2001-06-23) Move a column with the mouse. AFAIK, probably never used crippled CELL formula in this workbook. 1) Select column, then with shift, grab border of left side of column below the lettered heading and move between two other columns. This is legitimate but "ghosting" did appear immediately after on one occassion. Usually had large files, but this one had only 3 sheets with very little in them. 2) After "fixing" the above "ghosting" problem, problem came back after turning on Tools, Options, Calculation, [x] Accept Names in Formulas ================================= From: David McRitchie Subject: Re: Help! Can't release cursor from a cell Date: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 4:33 PM Hi Jim, Sorry I skipped over yours too quickly, I do remember seeing CAD (ctrl+alt+del) and just thought CAD-CAM and ignored it. ---I move the pointer off of that one cell, it merely drags across my worksheet and highlights wherever I move. I can't release it no matter what I do--- Sounded like EXT since it was highlighting. There is a problem I have, but having XL2000, I can tell it is not a selection area because there is no blue. But I would see ghosting of selected cell borders on a few cells that are selected on other sheets, and eventually see some ghosted cells from other sheets, but the main tip-off was that the grid lines did not match the headers, and sheet does not show any cell selected in the name box left of formula bar. Even though 3 or more cells appear to be selected but do not have the blued interior that comes with XL2000 selection. One or more of the following occur. 1) bluing missing or not at cursor location. 2) gridlines do not match column and row headers 3) name box does not show a cell location for cursor when Excel is brought up. 4) see multiple cells with selection borders, or partial remnants but they match the areas selected on other sheets. 5) see ghosting of cell contents from other sheets, particularly those that are selected or have links. or =CELL Could get to other sheet tabs. This helps, do all.. 1) Move up and down sheet with mouse scroll wheel. 2) Move cursor to formula line, click, and then select a cell. 3) Do same on first 4 sheets and any sheet that shows ghosting. Ran a macro to cycle through all sheets so I could find where ghostings came form. 4) Remove link from cell that was ghosted elsewhere. Additional things that help -- may be faster 1) Click on scroll wheel and move around a bit. 2) RClick People who have this or similar sounding problems David McRitchie -- Ghosting Jim Watts - Help Can't release cursor from a cell (03/08/2000) "stuck" Jim Rech Chip Pearson -- MS Support Leo Heuser - right-click Jim Rech wrote in message news:ef#MNoTi$GA.189@cppssbbsa04... > Hi David- > > Perhaps you and Gord did not see my responses to Jim but I indicated that I > had encountered the same problem. I am quite familiar with Ext mode and > needless to say (I would have thought) that is what I first thought of when > I had the problem. Although it sounds superficially like extend mode is on > it is a lot more than that. The keyboard is essentially turned off and > menu items do not respond to clicks. It is a very interesting state to be in > and I probably wouldn't have believed it if it didn't happen to me. Hope > this helps you understand the issue until you encounter it first hand. > > -- > Jim Rech > Excel MVP > -------- Rob Bovey, MCSE, MCSD, Excel MVP, on 2000-11-07 wrote... We've seen a lot of this bug recently, and although I don't know for sure that this is the problem in every case, the signs seem to point to the mouse driver software as the culprit. Try downloading the latest version of the mouse driver for whatever mouse you use. If you're using one of the MS Intellimouse series, you can get the latest driver at: http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse/driver/3_2/default.htm http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse/download.asp **updated** updated link (Jim Rech 2001-12-10), see http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse/download.asp http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse/download.asp **updated** updated to include logitech mice http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=downloads/categories&CRID=1792&countryid=19&languageid=1 *** I applied the above patch and have had trouble staying online thereafter coincidence, probably, but I think I should reinstall my Office 2000 SR-1 update again. It also changed my mouse driver from one I like that came with the mouse and had a target cross when you hit the CTRL key. I would suggest that anyone else put on the fix before putting on the SR-1 update, if they have a choice. David --------------- I wrote down my setting just just in case: (David) Step Savers: smart speed -- module Pointers: scheme: noe, normal select Basics: one click right of center toward faster, left or lower Productivity: odometer Visibility: show location Wheel: all checked: turn on wheel, turn on wheel button (default) universal scrolling General: microsoft PS/2 Point mouse placed downloaded file into ht:/downloadh/mouse3p2 ----------------- ----------------- Additional Information (David McRitchie): I have eliminated all use of =CELL("filename) which would identify the last sheet updated/calculated. Not to be confused with =CELL("filename",A1) which is no problem. Both are valid but do not do the same thing. The first form seems to have been implicated for my use. My workbook was very large (lots of sheets). Perhaps this problem is related to volatile functions. My solution was to hardly use the problem workbook. I have not been able to isolate anything in particular. Chip Pearson for instance reports changing the mouse for a USB mouse, I think. I don't have a USB port anyway.. Anyway the problem seem tied in with screen repainting. Problem usually was with a wheel mouse, but that would be the standard now anyway. Not everybody with the problem had had a wheel mouse. Perhaps the fact that most had a wheel mouse was another way of saying that they changed the mouse from the original equipment , FWIW, I haven't had the problem for some time. I only happened in one workbook that I keep but no longer use everyday. I also eliminated/deactivated volatile UDF (User defined functions) that returned document properties and caused workbook to take a long time recalculate each time. Please report back what, if anything, worked for you. (FEEDBACK) My System: described at bottom Computer Dell Dimension XPS Pro/200 Pentium II Pro, 200 MHz, RAM 64MB Mouse: MS Intellimouse (wheel button, plus 2 standard) System: WinNT 4.0 (Build 1381) with SP4 Excel: Excel 2000 IE Version 5.0 (Build 2314) Total Physical Memory 64948 KB Available Physical Memory 2888 KB Page File Size 158368 KB Page File Usage 6% Total Virtual Memory 2097024 KB Available Virtual Memory 2058640 KB almost all reporting the problem appear to have a wheel mouse and Excel 2000; however, 2000-05-20 Tom Ogilvy reports problem in XL97 w/o wheel mouse 2000-12-22 was getting ghosting consistently and clearing up 1) delete sheet (scroll down here or next sheet) 2) to eliminate ghosting, select tab left and right. 2000-12-22 create a sheet with extensive hyperlinks, select a block of cells say 6 x 8, delete the sheet, select a cell -- see ghosting, select sheet tab to left, then return, ghosting gone in this sheet. Similar thing is delete the block of cells before deleting the sheet. 2001-01-07 Susan Harrelson (email) reported same problem Excel 97. I have a Dell XPS R450 with an original equipment Logitech Mouseman Wheel. Holding the wheel down & moving the mouse appeared to work 2001-03-12 Peter Malewski (email) can't post to newsgroups. The mouse I was using did not have a wheel, yet the driver was configured with one. As soon as I switched the feature off, EXCEL functioned correctly 2001-03-29 This is for a different kind of wheel mouse problem*** "Dana DeLouis" wrote > Thank you everyone. I think I found the solution. > Open up the mouse Properties box. On the wheel Tab, click Advanced. > Excel 9.0 was listed in the list of programs [to turn off the use of wheel] > I removed Excel from the list. (Other Office 2000 programs were not listed > Now the wheel works fine in the Excel vb editor. :>) Nice hadn't noticed that, Excel wasn't in that list, but Internet Explorer 5.0 was and isn't anymore now I no longer have to move the mouse to the scroll bar column in IE for the wheel to work. I will be more inclined to use the mouse scroll wheel in IE now. -- David 2001-04-03 Here's a new problem -- not the same because he cannot move the frame by the title bar nor select a sheettab. possible Resolution: remove alternate startup location in tools, options, general http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_umsgid=<3AF4B4C0.7D8EDEF5@iinet.net.au --- When it happens it is exactly as if the left mouse button is permanently pressed. You cannot select the sheet tabs, or select any of the menu items, or move the window. I can quit with ctr+alt+del and the windows key still brings the Start menu up, otherwise the keyboard is also useless. I have checked for anything malicious on the system ........ but have not found anything. ---possible cause is a circular reference: Message-ID: <#miJNoF4AHA.404@tkmsftngp05> http://groups.google.com/groups?as_umsgid=%23miJNoF4AHA.404@tkmsftngp05 ---solution that worked (same as the others) finally cured the problem by installing Microsoft's intelipoint software (even though I only have a standard PS2 mouse!), --- disabled auto scroll and the "wheel" ...... problem cured. -- "Diesel Alert" ---------------------- Something similar is "cured" by F2. See http://groups.google.com/groups?as_umsgid=eAZkKDvIBHA.1340@tkmsftngp03 After seeing nikmer's reply, I see that the macro is there. testloan on sheet1 defined name as $b$20:$D$21 in my test I do see the reported results [of two fill handles and the appearance of two selection areas] and the difference between being on or off sheet1 when running macro to populate at the active cell. Sub TwoHandles() Dim rng1 As Range Set rng1 = Range("testloan") rng1.Copy ActiveCell End Sub My first try I had cells with interior color and borders and noticed a difference in the fill handle when the active cell is moved over the original active cell. Tried it again with normal cells and the the two fill handles are exactly the same. This looks very similar to the ghosting problem, but doesn't cause any problems. Immediately after running the macro you do not see any selected cell or any fill-handle but after selecting another cell you see what appears to be two selected areas each with a fill handle. Besides the F2, mentioned by nikmer and the VBA also mentioned SendKeys "{f2}{enter}{up}" this can be also removed by depressing the mouse wheel and moving past the sheet then back, and also by going to another sheet and back. With ghosting these may work but never consistently. I will add F2 to my ghosting page and the information here. http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/ghosting.txt -- DragLock 2002-01-24 Robert Rosenberg ---- Whenever I left (mouse) click on a cell, I cannot type or insert anything into the cell and where ever I move the mouse highlights and expands or drags the box. The only way I can get out is to right-click on the bottom bar and close Excel. Fred Black Robert Rosenberg's answer (3 paragraphs): If customized a certain way (called DragLock on my Logitech) can then be used to select a range of cells without holding down the left mouse button. When you run into this problem, simply click the mouse wheel (as if it were a button) and that should release your drag lock. To permanently disable DragLock, go to Start-->Settings-->Control Panel, Double-Click the Mouse applet, then on the Buttons Tab change the action representing the Wheel (the number two button on my LogiTech cordless) to anything Other than DragLock. Of course, these instructions may not be exact depending on what brand of mouse you have. For instance, it may not be called DragLock and the wheel may not be the second button on a Microsoft Wheel mouse. comment: Note this was initiated by a left mouse click, the ghosting problems that have been described generally begin immediately when the workbook is opened. I do not see DragLock on my MS Intellimouse. I recently started using "Enter" for the mousewheel button instead of AutoScroll (default). Haven't actually experienced problems for quite some time. Probably due to the other tips on this ghosting page. D.McRitchie, end Draglock /// --Minimize / Maximize Excel sheet within Excel Just thought of something new to try: 2003-02-04 --Exit out of each frame within the VBE, and then close the VBE. --Minimize the Excel sheet within Excel and then restore or maximize it back to how you had it. ------------------------------------------------ Stuck keys: When you reboot there is a check for stuck key, so if you've been through a reboot and never saw a stuck key come up then it is unlikely that one of your keys is stuck. Mouse: You may be able to change some things quickly concerning the choice of a mouse. You may have a USB mouse with a PS/2 adaptor allowing you to change the way it is connected. With a laptop you can plug-in or unplug a mouse to use the keypad. On my laptop the PS/2 connection turns off the mousepad; whereas, the USB connection does not turn off the mousepad. ------------------------------------------------ ClickLock could present problems This option allows you to click once (timed event) then release and move cursor around the same as if you were holding down the left mouse button to stop the selection click again. You would see this happen on plain text anywhere in Windows Control Panel, Mouse, Mouse Activation (tab), ClickLock default is off. ------------------------------------------------- I don't have the problem with ghost selections anymore. Which I think is due to certain volatile functions such as property in User Defined Functions or CELL Worksheet Function without the anchor address. I did reassign the Wheel Button to instead of the AutoScroll default (wild scrolling thingy) but I think the ghost selecting is due to other causes and not solved just by switching AutoScroll with Enter, but it is a possibility and if you don't want AutoScroll you might change it for something more useful. . Since mentioned changes to mouse settings, I have 5 button mouse Left Button: Click (default) Wheel Button: Enter instead of AutoScroll (default) Right Button: Right-click (default) Large Thumb Button: Back (default) Small Thumb Button: Forward (default) My two extra buttons are not both on the left side of the mouse, one is on lower left side the other on lower right side -- are they trying to tell me something like my typing is like having two thumbs on my right hand. Exceptions for IrFanView for zoom options Large Thumb Button keystroke (Num -) Small Thumb Button keystroke (Num +} The settings I have for other Applications can be seen in http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/mouse.txt (also see fillhand.htm#mouse) ----------------------------------------------