Subscriber Raymond Kamanga wrote recently to describe a problem he was having with one of his Excel configuration settings. He likes to have different workbooks visible as tasks on the Taskbar, a configuration that is controlled on the View tab of the Options dialog box. When he sets the option, the next time he starts Excel, the option is cleared, and he has to set it all over again.
Many of the settings in Excel (even many of those in the Options dialog box) are stored on a workbook-by-workbook basis. Some of them change with every workbook you load; some of them change based on the first workbook you load each session.
There is a good chance that the Windows in Taskbar option (on the View tab) is one of these latter types. When you start Excel, it probably loads a workbook to display to you. This workbook could be a default workbook (from Excel's Startup folder), or it could be the Personal.xls workbook. If the Windows in Taskbar option is turned off in one of these (whichever is loading first), then each Excel session will start with the option off.
The solution is to figure out which workbook is being opened when you first start Excel. Then, load that workbook, change the setting, save it again, and restart Excel. The problem should not recur.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2549) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
Merging cells is a common task when creating worksheets. Merged cells can play havoc with the normal functioning of some ...
Discover MoreWant to find out exactly what version of Excel you are using? Here's how to get to the info.
Discover MoreExcel allows you to display the results of several common worksheet functions on the status bar. The available functions ...
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 © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments