Embedded Excel Table in Word doesn't display correctly (Word for Windows)

Question

We run Microsoft Office 365. We have several users with Microsoft word documents with embedded excel spreadsheet/tables in them. The Spreadsheets work fine. The word document works fine. The issue is when they click out of the excel object, the column/row information and other excel features (sideways and vertical scroll bars) stay visible and block view of the surrounding word document. So if there is text just below the object, it will be blocked. When you view the print preview, everything looks correct. The only thing visible about the object is the table/its information. You can reset the view, by going to view>web layout>print layout. Doing this will change to the web layout and then back to the print layout and it will reset the excel object so it looks like it should. Below are screenshots:

This is the normal view. The word document has text above, below, and far below the excel table/object. The Excel object/table has text and formulas that all work in it. When you click in to edit, and then click out, this is what happens to the word document:

The border and excel column/row information, sheet number, and scroll bars stay visible, even when you are out of the excel object. You can see it is blocking test under the excel object/table. This happens every time you click out of the object. A workaround that we have found is to reset the view by going to view > web layout > then go back to print layout. This will make it go back to showing correct as the first image.

Has anyone else had this issue? Is there a permanent fix besides the workaround that we have found?

Answer 1

Hi Tina,

Thanks for sharing these detailed information with us. We deeply understand this issue has affected your daily work. Very sorry for the inconvenience caused.

We have tested from our side and found we can reproduce the same issue in different channels of Word. (Current channel, current channel Preview).

We recommend you feedback for this problem via File>Feedback or from Help menu>Feedback within Word. Feedback submit by this way directly goes to the related team. This is the best way to let the developers aware of this issue, The more reports they received from customers, the more likely they will be able to find something affected customers in common, work on the issue and help to investigate it and fix it soon.

Currently, as OP Zeke mentioned, you may try to reset the view by going to View tab>Web Layout>then go back to Print layout.

Doing this will change to the web layout and then back to the print layout and it will reset the Excel object so it looks like it should. When we test from our side, this way works.

Edited:

We found 3 workarounds shared from customers. You may try each of the workaround. At the same time please also feedback within Word application.

In addition, we'd like to make a summary for this issue so that other community members can easily find the related information:

Issue description:

===============

If you insert Excel tables to Word document from Insert>Table>Excel Spreadsheet, or by copying cell range from Excel and paste it in Word via Paste Special>Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object

when you clicking in the embedded table and then click out of it, it still displays the table with border and sheet number, and it blocks the view of the surrounding text.

Environment:

===============

Word desktop application

Current channel version 2202(Build 14931.20120)

Current channel (preview) version 2002(14931.20132)

Current status:

===============

Please send feedback for this issue via File>Feedback or from Help menu>Feedback within Word application.

Workaround:

===============

Workaround 1: Reset the view by going to View tab>Web Layout>then go back to Print layout.

Workaround 2: Right-click the Excel object, open up "Worksheet Object" and use Open. It will open the object in a new window and closing it will update the worksheet.

Workaround 3: Go to View > New Window to open a 2nd window for the problem document, then close the original window. New window shows the embedded Excel object properly.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Best regards,

Tina

[Updated by Tina Chen MSFT on 4:30 PM, Tuesday, March 15, 2021(UTC)]

Answer 2

Hi Geri Long & Mhmd Syafiq,

Very sorry for the inconvenience caused at your end.

Could you confirm the following information with us? It will help us better understand the situation and check if we can reproduce the issue from our side and do troubleshooting.

1.How do you embed the Excel table object into Word?

By select the range of cells from Excel, then go to a Word document, in Home tab, click Paste>Paste Special>choose "Microsoft Excel worksheet Object"?  

Or do you use the steps Paste>Link & Keep Source Formatting?

2.What is the version of your Windows OS?

3.What is your Office apps version? Please go to File>Account, capture a screenshot of Product Information, as shown below.

We appreciate your time and effort.

Best regards,

Tina

Answer 3

Tina (Microsoft Agent)

We had this issue appear yesterday for all our staff in the office. I assume since it is a new issue, and everyone had it happen on the same day, it is due to a change microsoft made in the software.

My Operating system is Window 10 Pro. We were instructed by our IT dept not to update to 11 just yet.

Using Microsoft 365 Apps for Business.

We have documents that had the embedded tables already in them and are having the issue. If I create a new document and insert a table (Excel Spreadsheet) I get the same issue. This should be a 4 column table with the first row highlighted green. This is after I click out of it.

This is what it SHOULD look like once I click out of it.

Answer 4

A workaround I've found at my work is to right-click the Excel object, open up "Worksheet Object" and use Edit or Open. It'll open the object in a new window and closing it will update the worksheet without displaying the "ghost object/image".

It's the only way I've been able to get around this as Office 365 doesn't seem to want to downgrade for any of my users, and the most recent 7th March update hasn't resolved this. Until then, I'll be waiting for it to be patched. Eventually.

Craig

Answer 5

Hi Craig,

Thanks for sharing the workaround. We will update summary to add this workaround as well. Hope it will help other users who encountering similar issue in Word.

Best regards,

Tina