Cannot change visible cells of an excel spreadsheet embedded in word

Question

Hi, 

the anwers provided here does not work for me.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/excel-spreadsheet-embedded-in-word-visible-cells/feb0bf63-4fa4-4c4f-be93-b8cd614d55e9

I get the same behavior with Edit or Open from the context menu of an embedded spreadhseet (created via Insert/Excel...).

Any clue?

My version is 

EDIT: with my version it looks like the Crop function from the context menu works (pretty slow and clunky but it works).

Answer 1

Hi rurubino,

Thank you for posting your question in this community.

I just did a test with the same version as yours Version 2008 (Build 13127.21064). Once I double clicked on the Excel workbook object I inserted. I would bring up an embed window with Excel application, which I can resize it by dragging the window.

I am not sure what kind of behavior you got previously when you click “Edit”, but it should bring up a Excel window and act as your updates, like a “crop” behavior.

Here is a GIF I recorded when I did the test.

 

Best regards, Dihao

Answer 2

Hi,

thanks for your reply and your test.

This is funny: I get a completely different behavior!

Double-clicking on the embedded spreadsheet (or clicking Edit) brings up a separate "regular" excel window, not the kind of "excel in a word page" - as you show in your gif - which has the handles to select the visible part.

I do remember this was the behavior in previous versions of Office.

Now I can only resize this excel window but that does not change the visible part of the spreadhseet in word once I close the excel window.

Crop works though.

See video...

regards

Answer 3

Hi rurubino,

Thank you for your reply and sharing the details. I further did a test with the same steps you shared in GIF which I created a new document > Insert > Table > Excel Spreadsheet, Word would bring up an “embedded” Excel window within Word app as my previous GIF shows rather than an individual Excel window as your GIF shows. Then I can resize the table by dragging the handle to select the display range (Same behavior if Iright click on the table > Worksheet Object > Edit**)**

I also did a test with a latest version in Office Beta channel, the behavior is consistent.

Here is some information I would like to confirm with you.

1: If you perform the same steps (Insert > Table > Excel Spreadsheet) in PowerPoint app, are you able to adjust the cell range correctly without using crop function.

2: Before this scenario occur, can you recall any change you made? Such as update Office apps, Windows, etc.

Additionally, it seems that the problem most likely is related to Office apps in this scenario. I suggest you can try out the following methods and see the results.

1: Use Office repair tool to online repair Office apps.

For your information:

Repair an Office application

2: Enter Office Safe mode by running command in Run box to isolate the problem is caused by any add-ins or extensions.

For your information:

Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC- see: Use the /safe option to open an Office application

3: Lauch Windows with clean boot to isolate this behavior is related to other programs or services in the system.

For your information:

How to perform a clean boot in Windows

Best regards,

Dihao

Answer 4

Hi rurubino, 

Regarding to this question, if there are any updates, please feel free to let us know below and share the results with us.

Best regards,

Dihao

Answer 5

Hi Dihao,

thanks for your reply.

To your questions:

1. No, even in powerpoint I cannot resize the visible cells as you do. Worse, I don't even see the Crop function in the context menu... see video
2. I don't think I made any (conscious) changes. THis is a company PC and updates are continuously applied. I don't recall seeing the "correct" behavious since we migrated to Office 365 though. I do recall it used to work as you describe before, not sure when and what version did we use then.

Anyways, this is annoying but not blocking. If you find something please let me know.

regards