You could use a macro...

Option Explicit
Sub Testme()
'if they're from the Forms toolbar
activesheet.checkboxes.delete

'if they're from the control toolbox toolbar:
Dim myCBX As OLEObject
For Each myCBX In Activesheet.OLEObjects
If TypeOf myCBX.Object Is MSForms.CheckBox Then
myCBX.Delete
End If
Next myCBX
End Sub

If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

Steve wrote:

Dave,

Quite right, I didn't remove the hyperlink with my format painting, but cut
and paste special/values does the job.
I can remove individual "symbols" (drop down boxes and check boxes) using
your method with the Control Toolbox. But how do I remove 200 check boxes?

Steve

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
First, be careful. Changing the format/style of the cell won't remove the
hyperlink. It'll just make it so it doesn't look like a hyperlink.

Second, show the control toolbox toolbar.

In xl2003, it's View|Toolbars|Control toolbox. Click on the Design mode
icon on
that toolbar. (Let your cursor linger over the icons to see the yellow
tooltip
to find it.)

Then try selecting the checkboxes and dropdowns/comboboxes (and then hit
the
delete key).

Steve wrote:

Dave,

I confused the issue.

1. I didn't know the name "hyperlink" so couldn't find how to remove them
in
Excel Help.
Embarrassingly, I find I can use the 'Format Painter' to copy simple text
formatting to these hyperlinks and make them into text.

2. I do have additional 'check boxes' and one 'drop down box', which I
can
neither delete nor even select.

Thanks for your help.

Steve

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I thought your symbols were objects--like little icons.

But you mean that they're stock symbols, right?

And you've already deleted the hyperlinks themselves, right?

If both are true...
Select the range
format|Style...
And change to Normal
(don't use Hyperlink style)

If you still have hyperlinks and you want to get rid of them:

Select the range that should have the hyperlinks removed
hit alt-f11 to get to the VBE (where macros live)
hit ctrl-g to see the immediate window
type this and hit enter:
selection.hyperlinks.delete



Steve wrote:

<<snipped

Dave,

Sorry for the late reply.
Your suggestion doesn't work in my case (maybe because I'm using Excel
2000?).

Being more specific, can I change some Excel formatting so that
imported
stock symbols which appear in Blue and Underlined (like an internet
link
or
URL) are re-formatted as normal text?

Steve

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson