Toolbar Nuisances

Subscriber Daniel Geiger complained that when he opens a workbook, the Reviewing and Web toolbars open automatically. He finds this bothersome, as he never uses these toolbars and must continually close them.

This behavior seems to be unique to Excel 2002. The Reviewing toolbar is supposed to start popping up when someone sends the workbook file via File | Send To | Mail Recipient (for Review). However, it is possible that this "feature" could get turned on at other times, as well. Basically, the setting means that whenever anyone opens the workbook, the toolbar pops into view, in an effort for Excel to be helpful.

The solution is to convince Excel that the workbook has not been sent via e-mail for someone to review. Follow these steps:

1. Open the offending workbook (and close the toolbars that inevitably pop up).
2. Choose the Properties option from the File menu. Excel displays the Properties dialog box for the workbook.
3. Make sure the Custom tab is displayed. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. In the list of custom properties, you should see four properties beginning with an underscore. Delete these properties.
5. Close the Properties dialog box.
6. Save the workbook.