Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 26, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Isabelle wrote concerning a problem she was having with Excel. It seems that the Formula bar is not persistent for her. It disappears when opening some workbooks, which is quite bothersome.
By default, the Formula bar should be turned on. It is possible to manually turn it off, or to have a macro turn it off. In fact, this last method of turning it off—through a macro—is probably what is happening in Isabelle's case. Some workbooks created by others may have macros in them that run whenever you open the workbook. This is not unusual, as macros are often used to configure the Excel environment to fit the particular needs of whoever programmed the macro.
A problem arises, however, when the expectations of the macro programmer don't match those of the user. For instance, the programmer may see no need for the Formula bar to be on, and so may turn it off. A similar problem arises when the programmer turns off the Formula bar but forgets to turn it back on when the macro is completed or when the workbook is closed.
If the problem is caused by a macro or by an add-in, then the only way to solve it is to either change the macro yourself, or else have the original programmer change it so the Excel interface reflects how you want to work with the worksheet.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2070) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
Excel's interface can be easily modified to reflect the way you want to do your work. This tip explains how you can ...
Discover MoreToolbars allow you to access common tasks quickly and easily. Excel provides a wide variety of toolbars, and you can even ...
Discover MoreWhen you make a change to one of Excel's toolbars, do you know where that change is stored? This tip explains the name ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments