Excel Comments not displaying properly

Question

Hi I use a MacOS  version :High Sierra 10.13.3. I recently upgraded my Excel for Mac and have version 16.9.  For some reason all the Comments I have previously written on Excel spreadsheets when I view them they come up as code and don't display in words. How do I fix this  as I need to read these comments in words not computer code? THANK YOU

Answer 1

Hi Maree,

For troubleshooting purpose, I use Excel for Windows to check the two .xls workbooks you provided.

Here’s the result:

For the workbook having no issue, when I go to File > Check for Issues > Check compatibility, it shows “no compatibility issues were found”.

For the workbook having the messy code issue. It shows that “Some cells or styles in this workbook contain formatting that is not supported by the selected file format. These formats will be converted to the closest format available”.

I notice that the two workbooks are all .xls format. Have they ever been converted from another format to .xls? Are there any specific format or styles used in the spreadsheet? But these are all the things I am thinking of the cause of the issue. It seems that the spreadsheet has been damaged for some reason. There may not be easy to repair them. So, how can you get the work well spreadsheet back? If you have any copy of them from your colleagues or organization server, can you get all them back?

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 2

Hi Maree,

We have received many similar Excel comments issue recently, please check this thread and confirm if you are in the same scenario.

If so, the workaround now can be updating to the insider version 16.10 to fix the issue.

On the other hand, as the safe boot doesn’t have the issue, you can disable launching all the third-parties to see if you can see the comment without issue.

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 3

That the files display OK in Safe Mode confirms Rena's suspicion that a 3rd party app is likely at fault.

Please give her suggestion of updating to 16.10 by installing the Insider Fast build some consideration - but Rena should have warned you that 16.10 is pre-beta (meaning it isn't even ready for general testing, yet). Insider Fast builds are large, frequent builds. Expect undocumented new features, and new bugs that may yet be unreported, and you will get to report them.

What is Office Insider? - Office Support

Insider slow is more tame. You get the general release build that should be ready for final testing a few days sooner than everyone else. You'll get 16.10 in the first or second week of February if you opt for this program.

Answer 4

HI I will look into office insider .

Mean while can you please tell me how hard is it to regress back to Excel v15.41 until  16.10 comes out. Is that advisable as I really need to read the comments and work on these spread sheets asap.

☺️cheers maree

Answer 5

Hi Rena thanks for this,

I'm not sure how to disable launching all the third-parties is there a instruction link for that somewhere.?

 I will look into office insider 

Mean while  is there instructions you can send me if I wanted toregress back to Excel v15.41 until  16.10 comes out. Is that advisable as I really need to read the comments and work on these spread sheets asap.

☺️cheers maree