Microsoft KB Archive/99521

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

Excel: Picture Object Is Blank when Created or Updated
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996

Article ID: Q99521

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY
A picture object in Microsoft Excel may be rendered blank when it is created or, if it is a linked picture, when it is updated. This problem will occur if you have frozen panes with only one pane that is viewable (that is, if your frozen pane marker is off the screen) and if the range from which your picture is created or to which your picture is linked is in the off-screen pane.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel versions 3.0 and 4.0 for Windows and the Macintosh. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 4.0a for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION
To have frozen panes with only one pane viewable, set one of the column widths in the pane you want displayed to be wider than the screen. (This technique is useful when you are creating a custom application in which you want the user to be confined to an area on the worksheet.)

You can create a linked picture object of cells using the Camera tool or the Paste Picture Link command on the Edit menu. You can create an unlinked picture object using the Paste Picture command. (The Paste Picture Link and Paste Picture commands are available on the Edit menu when, after copying the cells to the Clipboard, you hold down the SHIFT key and choose the Edit menu.)

If you're creating or updating a linked picture object in the viewable pane that is linked to a range in the off-screen frozen pane, it and all other linked pictures in the viewable pane, will be rendered blank. This will occur even if the other pictures are linked to different ranges in the off screen pane. Similarly, if you're creating an unlinked picture object from a range in the off screen pane, it will be rendered blank.

This problem will not occur with chart objects.

Microsoft Excel Version 4.0 for Windows
Update your copy of Microsoft Excel to version 4.0a for Windows. To update to Microsoft Excel version 4.0a, contact Microsoft Consumer Sales at (800) 426-9400.

Microsoft Excel version 3.0 for Windows and

Microsoft Excel versions 3.0 and 4.0 for the Macintosh
When you create a linked or an unlinked picture, the frozen pane marker must be displayed on the screen for the picture to be rendered correctly. Either adjust the column widths within the viewable pane or hide the wide columns and then create the picture. You can then reset the column widths or unhide the columns.

If you have an existing linked picture, to make it to update properly, either adjust the column widths within the viewable pane or hide the wide columns so that the frozen pane marker is showing and press CTRL+ALT+F9 in Microsoft Excel for Windows or COMMAND+SHIFT+= in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.

In both of these cases, the easiest method is to hide the column. To hide or adjust a column, use the choose Column Width from the Format menu, and make the appropriate adjustments in the Column Width dialog box.

Steps to Reproduce the Problem
The following shows the steps to create a linked and unlinked picture object from a range in the off screen pane.

  From the File menu, choose New. Select Worksheet and choose OK.  Enter 1, 2, and 3 in cells E1, E2, and E3, respectively. Select the vertical pane marker and drag the bar to between columns D and E. In version 4.0, from the Window menu, choose Freeze Panes. In version 3.0, from the Options menu, choose Freeze Panes. Select cell C1. From the Format menu, choose Column Width. Enter 100 in the Column Width box and choose OK. From the Formula menu, choose Goto. Enter E1:E3 in the Reference box and choose OK. Note that cells E1:E3 will be selected but you will not see the range on on your screen due to the frozen panes.  To create a linked picture, choose the Camera tool. -or- To create an unlinked picture, hold down the SHIFT key and choose the Copy Picture command from the Edit menu.  If you are using the Camera tool, click cell A1 for the picture to be pasted. If you press SHIFT and choose a command from the Edit menu, select cell A1 and from the Edit menu, and choose Paste.</li></ol>

The picture will be blank.