Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 16, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Gary wrote about a problem he was experiencing with Excel. It seems that any customizations he made to the Standard toolbar were periodically and randomly removed by Excel. This didn't happen when he customized other toolbars--only the Standard toolbar.
This does, indeed, sound odd. Several other ExcelTips subscribers attempted to duplicate the problem, but were unable to do so. For that reason, it appears that the problem may be due to some conflict with a different program installed on the system. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to track down such problems. The only solution is to work around them.
The first suggestion is to not make any modifications to the Standard toolbar, if that is the only one exhibiting this problem. Instead, create a brand new toolbar and place on it the tools you would normally have on the Standard toolbar, plus your customizations. This leaves the original Standard toolbar "as is" and provides you with a new toolbar that has all the same functionality, customized for your individual needs. You can then turn off the Standard toolbar and only display your custom one.
Another good idea is to periodically back up your toolbar customizations. If you do run into funny, random resetting of the toolbars, you can then use your backup to restore everything the way you want it.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2593) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2013 For Dummies today!
Want to get rid of a toolbar button? There's no need to drag open the menus and dialog boxes; just use the shortcut ...
Discover MoreIf your Formula bar disappears when you load a workbook, it could be due to the presence of a macro that turns it off. ...
Discover MoreToolbars make it easy to quickly access your most common commands. Excel allows you to customize your toolbars so that ...
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