Windows 7 - Auditing tools suddenly grayed out

Asked By Jimpe

05-Feb-10 10:10 PM

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have 3 auditing tools in my toolbar -- trace precedents, trace dependents & remove arrows. All of a sudden all 3 are grayed out and (of course) inoperative. <br><br>I thought I must have changed something in Preferences without meaning to, but I cannot find any culprit. <br><br>Hope someone can help!

06-Feb-10 06:55 PM

Hi,

The auditing tools are grayed out if you have protected the worksheet.
Try the Tools menu and see if Protection has been turned on.

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
Co-author of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One For Dummies
http://tinyurl.com/Office-2008-for-Dummies

07-Feb-10 10:41 AM

Jim, <br><br>Nope, nothing in the workbook is protected. But I just realized that none of my other workbooks have this problem, so it probably is not something I might have changed in Preferences.  <br><br>I have gone through every item in each menu to see if there is a difference in the settings there, but if there is, I cannot find it. <br><br>Mny thanks for your answer!

07-Feb-10 11:54 AM

The auditing tools are not available on Macro sheets or Chart Sheets.
There may be some other conditions where the auditing tools can not be
used. When you do use the tools, it is normal behavior that the
dependency and precedence lines go away when the workbook is saved,
including when it is autosaved.

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
Co-author of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One For Dummies
http://tinyurl.com/Office-2008-for-Dummies

19-Feb-10 09:31 PM

Jim, <br><br>The problem exists in a new annual financial report I have prepared for 2010. It has no macros or charts, and the problem does not exist in the 2009 or earlier versions. <br><br>I know the lines go away after a save. This is not a problem -- it is that the tools themselves are inoperative. <br><br>Jim

22-Feb-10 08:03 PM

hmmmm.

If you do not remember what was done immediately prior to the buttons
becoming inactive, it is hard to guess what could be the cause.

Is it the entire workbook or just one sheet that is giving you fits? If
you add a new sheet, are the buttons available?

Did you try copying the information to a new sheet or workbook to see
what happens?

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
Co-author of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One For Dummies
http://tinyurl.com/Office-2008-for-Dummies

25-Feb-10 01:46 PM

Jim <br><br>I finally solved the problem -- but not very elegantly. <br><br>I made a copy of a previous year's report that did not have the problem, cleared the data and pasted the data from the problem workbook into each sheet of the new document. <br><br>I still do not know what caused the problem -- and wish I did! -- but at least it is gone away. (For now!) <br><br>Many thanks for your help!