Excel redefines or changes default Notes shape when saving a workbook

Question

Hello,

I am trying to troubleshoot the root cause of a problem with our work PCs Excel installation. Users can receive or create workbooks. When first opening such workbooks, they open in protected mode. Users can enable and if the user shows a Note or Shows All Notes, the standard or default yellow rectangle shape is used. Users then saves the workbook. It does not matter where. When the workbook is re-opened, the default shape is now a yellow right swooping arrow.

This makes notes difficult to read.

The users can alter each and every note shape, one at a time and save and those changes then persist. I am trying to get to the root cause. It seems that on first save, our installations of Excel encode the file with a different shape id value. Examples of before and after first save of existing workbooks from other sources including apps which allow users to export output as excel workbooks containing notes.

Before saving:

After Saving:

Any suggestions to the cause of this behavior or the location and file that may cause this change would be greatly appreciated.

Version is Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2408 Build 16.0.17928.20114) 32-bit

Answer 1

I think the issue may be due to something a little deeper than one installation.

additional findings- We cannot change version or update, we are locked down to this version, no option there. This issue is common to all our client installations for Excel files being made with the Epicor Data Management Tool, which I believe is using an Office installation's application resources to help write the initial file. Once we open and save or update the original file, the issue manifests. It behaves in a way similar to ID collisions moving between you systems. The appserver uses its copy of Excel to write the file and all its elemental identifiers including what it knows as its default yellow rectangle shape ID. When we open the file, it displays correctly using that original shape ID. When we save the file elsewhere, overwrite or modify the open file, a new shape ID is used, and this new ID references the Arrow shape. We see this the next time the file is opened or reopened, regardless from where. If the file is not saved and Excel is closed and the orginal file is opened again, the original yellow rectangle shape is preserved. The change takes place when the file is saved or written somewhere else by our Office installation. I am checking on the version in use on the appservers now.

Answer 2

You may try update office to latest version. 2409 18025.20104

If issue persist, it could be Excel setting is changed on that computer.

Locate the Options registry key and delete it

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options

How to Reset Excel to Default Settings [Quickest Ways] (windowsreport.com)

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