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:

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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

Thanks. I should note that I've been informed in other threads that the Edit button still causes these ghost objects, which I didn't find during my tests. Using Open seems to be the correct workaround.

Regards,
Craig

Answer 3

I am affected by the same misbehavior described previously in this thread (editing a Word document with an embedded Excel object leaves incorrectly displayed content). Embedding an Excel object within a Word document has worked well for me for years.

The use of "Worksheet Object | Edit" does not solve the issue for me.

I found another workaround: Use 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.

My version information is shown in the following screen snip:

Hope this information and my additional workaround helps solve the issue.

Answer 4

Not being able to edit embedded Excel spreadsheets all of the sudden is a MAJOR inconvenience I didn't need! I am a CPA and this is busy season!

With that being said the only thing that works is the Worksheet Object, Open workaround. Only problem is I can't figure out how to resize the window in Word for the object??

This is a systemic problem that appears to have happened in the last week or so. PLEASE FIX THIS ASAP!!!

Answer 5

Hi GarbenAuto,

Thank for sharing another workaround here, it will help other community members who come across this thread. We appreciate your time and effort.

@JackCal44,

We apologize for the trouble caused on your side.

We tested from our side and found the same problem that we cannot resize the Excel object in Word. Very sorry about it.

Please send feedback via Help menu>Feedback, or File>Feedback, as this is the best way to let Word developers take attention on the problem and fix it soon.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Best regards,

Tina