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,

You can go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Extensions > All category to disable all third-party extensions. If you want to check which one is causing the issue, you can uncheck them all, then check them 1 by 1 to see the result.

If you want to revert back the version, you need to uninstall first, then re-install any version from this page.

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 3

Hi Maree,

Do you still have the issue?

Thanks,

Rena

Answer 4

Yes I still have the problem. Have not had a chance to action your 3rd party instructions as I have been travelling. will try to in the morning.

And let you know.

☺️cheers maree 

P.s I have tried coping older workbooks and opening them only to have the same problem of not being able to read the comments.

Answer 5

Hi Maree,

OK. I will wait for your reply. 

In the meantime, except disable the Mac preference third-party extensions, please also follow the steps to uninstall add-ins in Excel app:

Click the Excel Insert tab > my add-ins > Office add-ins > check if there’s any add-ins there, if so, click the collapse button next to the Add-in > remove to remove all the add-ins there.

Thanks,

Rena