Excel VBA Editor for Mac is UNUSABLE!

Question

I am using the latest Excel version on a Mac (16.28)

My issue is that the VBA Editor is impossible to use!

Specifically when typing code into a module, whenever I type any code it invariably misses the odd letter and I have to keep going back and correcting it.

Even more annoying is that the Editor will insist on erasing spaces at the end of a line!  When I type a space with about a second the space is eliminated, and tabs are ignored.

I've tried some of the suggestions I've found on the forum and none works (like auto syntax check and disabling an add-in which I don't have).

Is this issue specific to the Mac version or is anyone else suffering with this?

Thanks for any advice.

Geoff

Answer 1

Dear Jim

Many thanks for your advice.

However, I do not wish to get involved with the 'Office Insider' program and prefer to wait until the version is 'officially' released.

I have persevered with this and now think I have found the reason.  I still think it is a Microsoft issue and something they should look at.

The issue, I believe, is One Drive - or, more generally speaking, the Cloud.

If I try to directly edit a macro workbook on my One Drive, I get the issue.  If I download it to my local machine and edit it, the problem goes away.

So, whether it's an issue of Excel communicating correctly with a cloud-based file, or whether it's an issue of the cloud causing some upset within Excel I don't know but I can reproduce the issue by directly editing any macro workbook on my One Drive.  All edits to local macro workbooks do not have the issue.

Thanks all, for your suggestions and help.  Over to Microsoft...

Geoff

Answer 2

Hi Tempeltec,

I go through your post and tested on my side. but I can’t repro the first issue. based on my research, I think methods in this article can be helpful: VBA editor auto-deletes spaces at the ends of lines. As you mentioned that you have tried clearing auto syntax check and add-in, some people solve the issue by opening design mode in VBA editor, in Mac, you can turn on it by click icon in the screen below which is circled.

If information doesn’t solve the issue, for further troubleshoot, could you please share us with information below?

1. Does the issue happen on all your workbooks or specific one?
2. Have you changed anything on your Mac or Office client before the issue happens?
3. What is your MacOS version?

Regards,

Robinson

Answer 3

Hi Geoff,

I was experiencing the same issue.

After running Disk Utility on all my volumes the problem went away and now the VB Editor runs smoothly. I can't promise repairing your file system will do the same niceness for you as it did for me, but I do recommend you give it a go.

Repair a disk using Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Answer 4

Hi Tempeltec,

I go through your post and tested on my side. but I can’t repro the first issue. based on my research, I think methods in this article can be helpful: VBA editor auto-deletes spaces at the ends of lines. As you mentioned that you have tried clearing auto syntax check and add-in, some people solve the issue by opening design mode in VBA editor, in Mac, you can turn on it by click icon in the screen below which is circled.

If information doesn’t solve the issue, for further troubleshoot, could you please share us with information below?

1. Does the issue happen on all your workbooks or specific one?
2. Have you changed anything on your Mac or Office client before the issue happens?
3. What is your MacOS version?

Regards,

Robinson

Dear Robinson

Thank you for your response.

I did try 'Design View', which had no effect.

FYI my MAC OC version is High Serra (10.13.6), the highest I can have on my mid-2011 iMac.

Nothing has changed.

If I work with a brand new workbook and enter into the visual basic editor, it is fine.  This, I believe, has led me to discover the reason behind my problems, (not the answer - see below), which I will post on this thread shortly.

Thanks,

Geoff

Answer 5

Hi Geoff,

I was experiencing the same issue.

After running Disk Utility on all my volumes the problem went away and now the VB Editor runs smoothly. I can't promise repairing your file system will do the same niceness for you as it did for me, but I do recommend you give it a go.

Repair a disk using Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Dear Jim

Thank you for your suggestion, which I will attempt.

However, I believe I have got to the bottom of it,  (see below)  and will post my findings here shortly.

Thanks,

Geoff