Microsoft KB Archive/165258

= XL97: Pressing ALT+F11 May Not Start the Visual Basic Editor =

Article ID: 165258

Article Last Modified on 10/22/2000

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q165258



SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel 97, when you press ALT+F11, you cannot start or switch to the Visual Basic Editor.



CAUSE
This problem occurs if an ActiveX control on a worksheet has the focus when you press ALT+F11.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, use either of the following workarounds.

Method 1: Use the Macro Command
To start or switch to the Visual Basic Editor when an ActiveX control has the focus, point to Macro on the Tools menu, and then click Visual Basic Editor.

NOTE: When you point to Macro on the Tools menu, the Alt+F11 key combination appears next to the Visual Basic Editor command. However, this key combination does not work when an ActiveX control has the focus.

Method 2: Shift the Focus Away from the ActiveX Control
You can also click a cell on the worksheet so that the ActiveX control no longer has the focus. Then, press ALT+F11 to start or switch to the Visual Basic Editor.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Excel 2000.



MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel 97 you can add ActiveX controls to worksheets for making custom applications. The ActiveX controls that you can add to a worksheet are displayed on the Control Toolbox toolbar. To display the Control Toolbox toolbar, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Control Toolbox.

