Excel selects multiple cells instead of one (cells are not merged)

Anonymous
2010-06-18T16:21:25+00:00

Excel selects multiple cells instead of one (cells are not merged) - When clicking on a cell, Excel will select multiple cells around the intended selection. Also, the number of cells automatically selected and position of the selection is random each time the intended cell is clicked on.

Shift + Arrow Keys will select correctly but is not practical to use every time.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2010-06-18T16:52:06+00:00

Might be EXT mode - touch F8 to clear this

Might be Sticky Keys - touch SHFT 5 times to clear this

gsnu201004

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Anonymous
2010-06-19T17:06:39+00:00

To expand on EXT mode:  Regarding EXT mode this is turned on or off in 2007 by pressing F8.  It is also called Extend Selection in 2007 or later and if the Selection Mode option has been turned on for Excel's status bar you will see "Extend Selection" displayed.  This mode can also be turned off by pressing Esc. 

If this answer solves your problem, please check Mark as Answered. If this answer helps, please click the Vote as Helpful button. Cheers, Shane Devenshire

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-19T04:35:05+00:00

    I see your using e2007 in which some people have reported a possible bug which causes this behavour. Adjusting the zoom level up then down then back to the required setting is reported to clear it.

    If this post answers your question, please mark it as the Answer.

    Mike H

    Works in 2010. Thank you very much for the info. I thought I was dumb, turns out excel has a bug :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-02T20:15:34+00:00

    I've seen this issue for years, it seems to be connected with the Page Layout view. F8 works, but only if you have accidentally hit the F8 to start with. When hitting the F8 does not cure the problem, try switching the view to the Normal Layout and then back to Page Layout view and it goes away.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-08T22:44:03+00:00

    I am having this same problem in Excel 2010. I tried the ESC button, the Shift-F8 command, and the Zoom trick. The zoom seemed to work once but that was it. Sometimes clicking on and editing another page of the document or another document all together will fix it for awhile, but it comes back. Closing the document and re-opening it did not fix it either.

    The only thing that does seem to stop it is quitting the program and opening it up again. That is unacceptable when you are trying to get work done.

    What is going on and how do I get rid of it?

    I even turned off the Extend Data Range Formats and Formulas button in the options and restarted the program to see if that would work.

    Thanks for you help.

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