Microsoft KB Archive/293820

= XL2002: Task Pane Disappears When You Start Excel =

PSS ID Number: 293820

Article Last Modified on 8/6/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel 2002

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This article was previously published under Q293820



SYMPTOMS
When you start Microsoft Excel, the task pane may flash once and then disappear.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs when the following conditions are true:
 * The Show at startup check box is selected in the task pane.

-and-
 * Excel opens one or more files automatically when it starts, including Personal.xls and any custom add-ins.

By default, Excel loads files from the following folders on your hard disk at startup:
 * C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Xlstart
 * C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\Xlstart
 * C:\Winnt\Profiles\ \Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\Xlstart

where  is your user name.
 * The folder specified in the At startup, open all files in box (on the General tab of the Options dialog box).



RESOLUTION
To prevent this problem from occurring, do not load files at startup. For additional information about how to prevent files from loading at startup, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

288866 HOW TO: Prevent Excel from Automatically Opening Files in the Startup Folder in Excel

To view the task pane after it disappears, click Task Pane on the View menu.

To work around this problem and allow the task pane to remain visible at startup, follow these steps.

NOTE: If you already created a Personal.xls workbook, skip to step 8.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/partner/referral/

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

 Start Microsoft Excel. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Record New Macro. In the Record Macro dialog box, click Personal Macro Workbook in the Store macro in list. Click OK. On the Stop Recording toolbar, click the Stop button. On the File menu, click Exit.</li> When you are prompted to save changes made to your Personal Macro Workbook, click Yes.</li> Start Microsoft Excel.</li> On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor.</li> In the Project Explorer window, click the + sign next to VBAProject (PERSONAL.XLS).

NOTE: If the Project Explorer is not visible, click Project Explorer on the View menu.</li> Click the + sign next to Microsoft Excel Objects.</li> Double-click This Workbook.</li>  In the code window that opens, type the following code: Private Sub Workbook_Open

On Error Resume Next Application.CommandBars(&quot;Task Pane&quot;).Visible = True End Sub </li> On the File menu, click Save Personal.xls.</li> On the File menu, click Close and Return to Microsoft Excel.</li> Quit Excel.</li></ol>

Additional query words: XL2002 taskpane

Keywords: kbprb KB293820

Technology: kbExcel2002 kbExcel2002Search kbExcelSearch kbExcelWinSearch

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