Excel 2007, Undesired selection of multiple cells

Anonymous
2010-07-20T19:01:58+00:00

I am using excel 2007, on occasion when i try to select any one cell it will highlight and select multiple cells. Once this occurs it happens with every cell I click on.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-07-29T19:22:04+00:00

I have heard, but cannot confirm, that some people with this problem have found that altering the zoom level (slider in lower right corner of Excel window) gets the multiple seelction to go away

best wishes

people.stfx.ca/bliengme

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

163 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-10-20T19:31:53+00:00

    If F8 does not fix the problem, perhaps you have inadvertantly nabled Sticky Keys.

    Touch the SHFT key 5 times to clear.

    gsnu201004

    This doesnt help on mine.  My sticky keys was already off.  I do notice this issue only happens for me in Page Layout mode.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-26T05:10:09+00:00

    Hello All:

    I actually signed up solely to post some information.

    I just got 2010, and so also just experienced this problem.

    The error seems somehow connected to zoom.

    I was zooming in and out repeatedly, so its no surprise that I had this error.

    Im not a software person, but my theory is that when shifting to different zoom levels,

    the software can resize the selection area visually, but sometimes not actually.

    Thats an ignorant mans guess at best.

    However, news that I hope will be of use to others is I have found a workaround, that works 100% of the time on my PC. Although I can replicate the glitch with 95% consistency in page preview mode, for me, the glitch has no effect in normal view.

    Notes - In preview mode, the shortcut key "Ctrl-A" for "select all" does not clear the glitch.

    • In preview mode, switching to normal view and back to page layout does not clear the glitch.
    • In preview mode, working in a different zoom level does not clear the glitch.
    • I do not believe this is a hardware problem, as I have never been able to replicate the problem in a brand new created and empty worksheet. The odd, sporadic appearances of this issue points to a rare alignment of user input. Zooming, cutting and pasting, resizing symbols etc... Again, supportted (I think) by the data that I can not replicate the error in a brand new created worksheet. It is only after user input, editing and manipulation that the error occurs.

    We need to start paying attention to what actions we are taking in our projects, and exactly when the error first occurs.

    I'm a tad dogged and methodical. If I find what causes it, Ill be sure to post it here.

    Hope all this helps.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-05-25T16:10:07+00:00

    A user of mine had this problem on 2007. 

    It would select 2 cells in the same column.

    I emailed the excel doc to myself and a co-worker.  It only selects one cell on my excel 2010.

    It selects 2 cells in the same row on my co-workers excel 2010.

    Changing the view zoom to something other than 100% solves the problem.  Changing it back to 100% brings the problem back.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-05-16T18:26:30+00:00

    No, Extend Mode was not turned on.  But another answer that was provided may work, and that is adjust the zoom level.  This call is in support of another user, and when i make contact with him, I will try the zoom feature.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments