Stopping Help from Using Online Resources

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 11, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 2003


2

One of the changes introduced in Excel 2003 was a greater reliance by the program on online help systems. When you choose to display Excel's Help system and then search for information on a topic, by default Excel also returns help topics from the Web, specifically from Microsoft's Web sites.

You can, if desired, configure Excel 2003 so that it won't access any online information. To make this change, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Make sure the General tab is displayed.
  3. Click Service Options. Excel displays the Service Options dialog box.
  4. In the Category list, choose Online Content. (See Figure 1.)
  5. Figure 1. The Service Options dialog box.

  6. Using the controls at the right side of the dialog box, specify how you want Excel to access (or not access) online content.
  7. Click OK to close the Service Options dialog box.
  8. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3047) applies to Microsoft Excel 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Converting Tables to Text

Need to convert all the tables in your document into plain text? This tip provides a macro that can make quick work of a ...

Discover More

Speeding Up Printing

Changing a couple of the print settings in Excel can speed up the printing of your worksheets. This tip examines those ...

Discover More

Foul Water Odor

Got a foul odor coming from your water tap? It could be caused by a number of different issues, as discussed in this tip.

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to automate any task in Excel and save time and effort. Learn how to extend Excel's functionality with VBA to create solutions not possible with the standard features. Includes latest information for Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. Check out Mastering Excel VBA Programming today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Determining Your Version of Excel

Want to find out exactly what version of Excel you are using? Here's how to get to the info.

Discover More

Excel Won't Display Different Windows in the Taskbar

If you want individual Taskbar buttons for each open Excel workbook but cannot seem to get those buttons, the culprit ...

Discover More

Setting the Width for Row Labels

Excel displays, by default, a row label or heading at the left side of each row on the screen. As you scroll down the ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 4 - 4?

2022-06-13 17:32:32

Allen

I am showing them because there are (believe it or not) people still using VERY old versions of Excel.

And, I do state which versions the tip works with. See the very end of the tip where I say "This tip (3047) applies to Microsoft Excel 2003." Plus, at the top of the right column on the page, I indicate that ALL the tips on this site are for much older versions of Excel, and provide a link to tips for later versions.

-Allen


2022-06-13 17:26:23

Haig Johnson

Why are you showing tips for Excel 2003? At least acknowledge that the tip ONLY works on Excel 2003, or show how to accomplish the same on different versions.


This Site

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.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.