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Viewing Comments

Summary: There are three different ways that Excel allows you to display any comments that are in your worksheet. Here's how you can change the display method used. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

Excel allows you to add comments to the cells in your workbook. At some point you may want to view your comments. Simply follow these steps if you are using a version of Excel prior to Excel 2007:

  1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Make sure the View tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
  3. Select from the three radio buttons in the Comments section of the dialog box. (The meanings of these settings are described shortly.)
  4. Click on OK to close the Options dialog box.

If you are using Excel 2007 then you should follow these steps:

  1. Click the Office button and then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options dialog box.
  2. Click Advanced at the left of the dialog box.
  3. Scroll down until you see the Display section. (Click here to see a related figure.)
  4. Select from the three radio buttons in the For Cells with Comments portion of the dialog box. (The meanings of these settings are described shortly.)
  5. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Regardless of the version of Excel you are using, notice that there are three possible settings for comments. The three radio buttons are as follows:

  • None. This option is selected by default. You can't see any indication of comments in a workbook if this option is selected. (In Excel 2007 this option is called No Comments or Indicators.)
  • Comment Indicator Only. This option results in a small red triangle displayed in the upper-right corner of cells that have comments. (In Excel 2007 this option is called Indicators Only, and Comments on Hover.)
  • Comment & Indicator. With this option selected, the comment indicators (red triangles) still appear, but all the comments in your workbook are visible. If you have a lot of comments, then your screen can appear very cluttered very quickly. (In Excel 2007 this option is called Comments and Indicators.)

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2856) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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