Excel Won't Display Different Windows in the Taskbar

Harold runs Excel 2002 on a Windows XP system. He often has several workbooks open at the same time, and he likes to see individual buttons for each workbook on the Taskbar. The problem is that he cannot get the system to display the desired multiple buttons.

There are two things that need to be checked out in order to make sure that you really get multiple buttons on the Taskbar. The first thing is in Excel; follow these steps:

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 the Windows in Taskbar check box. This ensures that Excel displays individual buttons for each open workbook.
4. Click OK.

The next thing that needs to be checked is in Windows itself. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click a blank area of the Taskbar. Windows displays a Context menu.
2. Choose Properties from the Context menu. Windows displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. The Taskbar tab should be displayed. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Make sure the Group Similar Taskbar Buttons check box is cleared.
4. Click OK.

Your individual workbook buttons should now be displayed, as desired, in Excel.