Mac Forum / Applications / Excel / July 2008

On 7/25/08 9:52 AM, in article 59b55252.-1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,

It's not stupid, and no fix is necessary. The problem is with your
worksheet. Use Edit-Go to-Special and select last cell. If this is not where
you think it ought to be, then you need to DELETE all columns to the right,
AND all rows below where the last cell actually is. Then save AND CLOSE the
workbook. When you reopen it, it should work properly.

There may also be defined names, which refer to cells near the edges of the
sheet; or cell borders or shading applied to entire rows or columns which
will cause this problem.

On 7/25/08 9:52 AM, in article 59b55252.-1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, "leekyriacou@officeformac.com"
     wrote:

     > Version: 2008 > Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) > Processor:
     Power PC > > New version of Excel (2008 for Mac) does not allow me to
     insert a column or > row into an existing file - stupid. It says "cannot
     shift objects off sheet" > -- so it thinks that all cells are being used
     even though the cells used is > quite small. I have tried clearing and
     saving to no avail. Stupid. Fix? It's not stupid, and no fix is necessary.
     The problem is with your worksheet. Use Edit-Go to-Special and select
     last cell. If this is not where you think it ought to be, then you need
     to DELETE all columns to the right, AND all rows below where the last
     cell actually is. Then save AND CLOSE the workbook. When you reopen it,
     it should work properly.

     There may also be defined names, which refer to cells near the edges of
     the sheet; or cell borders or shading applied to entire rows or columns
     which will cause this problem.

     -- Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom

     Thank you for your response. I did what you asked before I sent the original
     e-mail. I did it again, i.e., finding the last cell and deleting everything
     to the right and below it, and not only saved but also closed and re-opened
     file -- to no avail. I am still unable to insert rows or columns. This
     is pretty stupid for Microsoft to publish a new version of Excel that
     creates this basic a problem for pre-existing Excel files. Please help.

On 7/28/08 1:01 PM, in article 59b55252.1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, ""
     wrote:

     > > > On 7/25/08 9:52 AM, in article 59b55252.-1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
     > "leekyriacou@officeformac.com" > wrote: > > > > > >> Version: 2008 >
     Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) > Processor: > Power PC > > New
     version of Excel (2008 for Mac) does not allow me to > insert a column
     or > row into an existing file - stupid. It says "cannot > shift objects
     off sheet" > -- so it thinks that all cells are being used > even though
     the cells used is > quite small. I have tried clearing and > saving to
     no avail. Stupid. Fix? It's not stupid, and no fix is > necessary. > The
     problem is with your worksheet. Use Edit-Go to-Special and select > last
     cell. If this is not where you think it ought to be, then you need > to
     DELETE all columns to the right, AND all rows below where the last > cell
     actually is. Then save AND CLOSE the workbook. When you reopen it, > it
     should work properly. > > > > > > There may also be defined names, which
     refer to cells near the edges of > the sheet; or cell borders or shading
     applied to entire rows or columns > which will cause this problem. > >
     > > > > -- Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom >
     > > > > > Thank you for your response. I did what you asked before I sent
     the > original > e-mail. I did it again, i.e., finding the last cell and
     deleting > everything > to the right and below it, and not only saved
     but also closed and > re-opened > file -- to no avail. I am still unable
     to insert rows or columns. This > is pretty stupid for Microsoft to publish
     a new version of Excel that > creates this basic a problem for pre-existing
     Excel files. Please help. > Where was the last cell? How did you delete
     the rows and columns? Again, I still think it is a problem with your workbook,
     not an Excel issue.

     -- Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom

     NO GO. The last cell was where I thought it was -- using "Go To" it is
     in Column N Row 276. I once again DELETED all the cells below and to the
     right. This time I did it not with the delete key/command, but with the
     Delete Row (all rows below 276), and Delete Column (all columns to right
     of N). Saved again, reopened; still can't insert a row or column.

I used Move / Copy Sheet command and made a copy of the worksheet in a new 2008 workbook. In that copied worksheet, I am able to insert rows and columns. But not in my original that was created in old version of Excel.

Still stupid. Help, please.

On 7/28/08 1:48 PM, in article 59b55252.3@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, "Lee
     Kyriacou " wrote:

     > > > On 7/28/08 1:01 PM, in article 59b55252.1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
     "" > wrote: > > > > > >>>> On 7/25/08 9:52 AM, in article 59b55252.-1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
     >> "leekyriacou@officeformac.com" > wrote: > > > > > >> Version: 2008
     > > Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) > Processor: > Power PC >
     > New > version of Excel (2008 for Mac) does not allow me to > insert
     a column > or > row into an existing file - stupid. It says "cannot >
     shift objects > off sheet" > -- so it thinks that all cells are being
     used > even though > the cells used is > quite small. I have tried clearing
     and > saving to > no avail. Stupid. Fix? It's not stupid, and no fix is
     > necessary. > The > problem is with your worksheet. Use Edit-Go to-Special
     and select > last > cell. If this is not where you think it ought to be,
     then you need > to > DELETE all columns to the right, AND all rows below
     where the last > > cell > actually is. Then save AND CLOSE the workbook.
     When you reopen it, > it > should work properly. > > > > > > There may
     also be defined names, which > refer to cells near the edges of > the
     sheet; or cell borders or shading > applied to entire rows or columns
     > which will cause this problem. > > >>>>> -- Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh
     bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom > >>>>>> Thank you for your response. I did what
     you asked before I sent > the > original > e-mail. I did it again, i.e.,
     finding the last cell and > deleting > everything > to the right and below
     it, and not only saved > but also closed and > re-opened > file -- to
     no avail. I am still unable > to insert rows or columns. This > is pretty
     stupid for Microsoft to > publish > a new version of Excel that > creates
     this basic a problem for > pre-existing > Excel files. Please help. >
     Where was the last cell? How did you delete > the rows and columns? Again,
     I still think it is a problem with your > workbook, > not an Excel issue.
     > > > > > > -- Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom
     > > > > > > NO GO. The last cell was where I thought it was -- using "Go
     To" it is > in Column N Row 276. I once again DELETED all the cells below
     and to the > right. This time I did it not with the delete key/command,
     but with the > Delete Row (all rows below 276), and Delete Column (all
     columns to right > of N). Saved again, reopened; still can't insert a
     row or column. > > > > > I used Move / Copy Sheet command and made a copy
     of the worksheet in a new > 2008 workbook. In that copied worksheet, I
     am able to insert rows and columns. > But not in my original that was
     created in old version of Excel. > > Still stupid. Help, please. Well,
     if you are not going to try what we ask, or answer our questions, it's
     pretty difficult to supply any help.

     -- Bob Greenblatt [MVP], Macintosh bobgreenblattATmsnDOTcom

     I'm sorry, I am not communicating effectively. I have done exactly what
     you asked, several times, and have tried some additional things to help
     you diagnose. Still to no avail.

To help clarify, let me repeat: I several times went to the last cell using the "Go To" command, deleted everything to the right and below it, saved the file, closed it, reopened it -- and still no ability to insert rows or columns.

FYI, I just opened the same file in Excel 2004 for Mac, which I was using before Excel 2008 for Mac, and the file opens and allows inserting of rows and columns. I close the file without saving, and reopen with Excel 2008 for Mac, and no ability to insert rows and columns. I open other files with Excel 2008, and I can insert rows and columns.