How to stop Excel from automatically checking Workbook performance?

Question

Performance check??

The Excel sheet is the way I want it to look and don't want to change it for better performance. I just want Excel to stop prompting me.

Every time I open an Excel sheet, it wants me to do a performance check because of:

"Excess formatting and unneeded metadata cause large, slow workbooks. Check for improvements to performance"

So I find myself X-clicking away this message every time. Because there is no 'excess' of formatting. The Excel sheet simply is a nicely layouted workbook and we want it to be looking this way. We don't need Excel trying to outsmart us and giving this suggestion every time you open the workbook to remove information.

It is only very confusing for not-very-experienced users who also make use of my Excel sheet.

How and where can I set Excel in a way that is stops asking this unwanted question?

• The question mostly pops-up in the Web version of Office 365.
• I tried unchecking boxes in the performance check tool, in the desktop version, but to no result.

Would be lovely if someone has a workaround or knows which box needs to be un-checked.

And it would be awesome if a MS engineer helps giving priority to this problem, so that it can be switched of universally.

Answer 1

This thread shows that there are a significant number of people complaining about this. Unfortunately, this is only a user forum, we understand your problem, but we cannot do anything to fix it. Only the Excel developers can do this if they are instructed to do so.

As previously stated, this is simply a statistical problem, Microsoft must first recognize that this is a problem. Unfortunately, this is not so easy considering that more than 200,000 people work at Microsoft.

There is a feedback portal where you can cast your vote. There is already a feed on this topic, unfortunately with very few votes. I'm sure if we get as many votes as this post has been viewed, then Microsoft will react.

Anyone reading this, please follow these steps:

Click on this link:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/89bb523d-b197-ef11-95f6-0022484d7a88

1. Sign in
2. Click the Vote button

@HanzieV:

If you mark this reply as answer, it will be the first to appear when someone views this thread. I hope we can encourage as many people as possible to draw Microsoft's attention to this problem. Unfortunately, this is all we can do for you.

Andreas.

Answer 2

Hi Snow Lu,

Initially I preferred not to share the file because of all the privacy sensitive data it contains.

But by now I have sent the file to you recently. I hope you and your colleagues can work it out.

You may also want to check my response to Prash on this.

All the best,

Hanzie

Answer 3

You can copy the workbook and remove all the sensitive information in it and made some dummy data on it.

Answer 4

Thank you Snow Lu, for reaching out and giving this suggestion.

When I do check the performance, it comes up with a ton of suggestions. Of which however it is not very clear what it exactly will change, so that is scary as it may ruin the setup and layout of the Excel sheet.

And I also don't want to change anything. Because it is good as it is.

We know that not all of the layout or formatting is strictly necessary of filled with data even, but it is valuable for users to be guided by the layout and setup of this file. So we like it this way and don't want to fiddle with it.

Therefore the basic issue remains;

• I don't want Excel to give the suggestion in the first place.
• Automation should not try to out-smart human beings.

The purpose of this excel sheet is to have an annual planning:

• The first page is an 'overview' page, called 'Overzicht' in Dutch
• Every sub-team then has a page in the Excelsheet for a year planning. In every sub-team, people can fill out their names and make the planning for their subteam.
• The information filled out in the sub-pages, automatically feeds the first 'Overview' page.

This screenshot above is stripped from names and other privacy related data.

All the coloured tabs at the bottom are obviously tabs in the Worksheet.

I hope this helps. And I hope someone has the answer how I can switch off Excel to keep asking this question as it may confuse users.

Answer 5

Hey Prash,

Sorry, I prefer not to share the file because of all the privacy sensitive data it contains.

All in all it will be quite a lot of cells.

• It's about 10 pages with an annual planning, divided in roughly 4 moments per week, so roughly 52x4=200 cells times 10 pages = about 2000 cells with some basic formatting.
• In the sub-pages, people can indicate availability on a certain date. Roughly that is 10 person per sheet x the 200 cells (52x4) This means about 2000 cells of formula on each sub-page. with 10 sub-pages, this means some 20,000 cells of formatting.

But these are not all 'unused' cells. Many are used, and gradually during the year it will fill up more and more of course.

(check also my response to Snow Lu, as this may give a better overview of the purpose and setup of this file.

All the best,