Windows SBS 2003
Windows XP
Office 2003
Dell Optiplex GX260

We are a small CPA firm running, seemingly, identical set-ups on 6
identical workstations. We load a system.xls file from a network folder
(R:\Firm\system\excel\xlstart) when Excel starts through the 'At
startup, open all files in:' setting in the Options|general tab.

We've been loading this file successfully through multiple versions of
Excel over the last 5+ years.

On two of the workstations, the files in this folder have stopped
loading. Additionally, we are unable to create icons to execute any of
the macros in the system.xls file, even after manually loading the
file. When we assign the macro to an icon, it simply does not take,
i.e. when we right click after assigning -- the macro name is blank.

I have a guess that it may be tied to an add-in provided by
Practitioners Publishing Company -- company is a provider to the local
CPA community of compilation and review materials and include a couple
of Excel add-ins. Their support has not identified a known problem, but
I'm suspicious without any concreate evidence to support. I've removed
the add-ins from the problem computers -- Excel still doesn't load from
the alternate start-up folder, so I may be completly off-track. If
there our other accounting firms experiencing quirks with PPC's
software, I'd like to hear from them.

Any general suggestions would be greatly appreciated,

Bill Carlson

First, I have no real suggestions for your problem.

But how about trying a different approach?

If your system.xls file is just a home for macros, then maybe you could save
your file as an addin and load the addin via tools|addins (and point to the
R:\... folder).

And instead of assigning the macros manually, you could create the toolbar when
the workbook opens (and delete it when the workbook closes).

If you want to add an option to the worksheet menu bar, I really like the way
John Walkenbach does it in his menumaker workbook:
http://j-walk.com/ss/excel/tips/tip53.htm

Here's how I do it when I want a toolbar:
http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?th...5B41%40msn.com

=======
The closest thing I've seen is when my Default folder pointed to a network
drive. If I started excel when I wasn't connected to the network, excel would
reset this to point at a local folder on the C: drive. Each morning, when I was
connected to the network, I'd have to change that setting (actually via code,
though).

Could that be the close to the problem on the 2 workstations?




"Bill.Carlson" wrote:

Windows SBS 2003
Windows XP
Office 2003
Dell Optiplex GX260

We are a small CPA firm running, seemingly, identical set-ups on 6
identical workstations. We load a system.xls file from a network folder
(R:\Firm\system\excel\xlstart) when Excel starts through the 'At
startup, open all files in:' setting in the Options|general tab.

We've been loading this file successfully through multiple versions of
Excel over the last 5+ years.

On two of the workstations, the files in this folder have stopped
loading. Additionally, we are unable to create icons to execute any of
the macros in the system.xls file, even after manually loading the
file. When we assign the macro to an icon, it simply does not take,
i.e. when we right click after assigning -- the macro name is blank.

I have a guess that it may be tied to an add-in provided by
Practitioners Publishing Company -- company is a provider to the local
CPA community of compilation and review materials and include a couple
of Excel add-ins. Their support has not identified a known problem, but
I'm suspicious without any concreate evidence to support. I've removed
the add-ins from the problem computers -- Excel still doesn't load from
the alternate start-up folder, so I may be completly off-track. If
there our other accounting firms experiencing quirks with PPC's
software, I'd like to hear from them.

Any general suggestions would be greatly appreciated,

Bill Carlson

--

Dave Peterson

Hi Dave, thank you for your suggestion. Yes, the file only contains a
group of macro's that we use to assist us with our debits and credits.
I'll convert this file to an addin and follow your suggestion to create
a toolbar. It has been frustrating -- I've checked to see if the
setting changed on these two workstations; and they have not. Time to
give up and invest the time to create a better solution.

Thanks again,

Bill

By creating the toolbar on the fly, you're life will be much easier.

And once you get that "boiler plate" set up, you'll be able to use it for the
next time.

"Bill.Carlson" wrote:

Hi Dave, thank you for your suggestion. Yes, the file only contains a
group of macro's that we use to assist us with our debits and credits.
I'll convert this file to an addin and follow your suggestion to create
a toolbar. It has been frustrating -- I've checked to see if the
setting changed on these two workstations; and they have not. Time to
give up and invest the time to create a better solution.

Thanks again,

Bill

--

Dave Peterson