Is this a 2013 bug? Or is it me?

[scenario]

My file works in 2010 but not in 2013. Is it a bug or is it me? Any ideas?


I created a financial calculator using simple VBA and ActiveX controls that works perfectly when opened in Excel 2010, but not in 2013. I am looking for any thoughts regarding the problem which I will describe in more detail below.

Summary:
(1) I have ActiveX spin controls linked to most of my number input cells.
(2) I have VBA code to start the spreadsheet in full screen mode.

Problem:
When I open the file in Excel 2013, I can enter data into cells UNTIL I use the spin controls. Once I use any of the spin controls, I lose the ability to type values into the cells. It's as if the cells are locked (they are not).

Notes:
(1) My original workbook had multiple tabs, macros, etc. but... I have been able to replicate the problem in a simple demo spreadsheet (picture below) with one value, one spin control, and one line of code in Workbook_Activate.
(2) The problem does not occur in Excel 2010, only 2013.
(3) I have also been able to replicate the problem with other lines of code in either Workbook_Activate or Workbook_Open. The lines of code involved maximizing the screen, hiding scrollbars, hiding tabs, hiding the command bar, and others.

Attachments:
- I am including screen shots of my simple demo file below. One showing the single input with spin control; the other showing the simple line of code in This Workbook/Workbook_Activate.

Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated.
In a perfect world, the problem will be the result of a simple mistake on my part that you will be able to correct me on quickly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[scenario]

Why have you got the Workbook activate code in the sheet module ??
Try it in "This Workbook" module

It is in the This Workbook module. The Sheet module appears highlighted in the graphic but it's empty. The code you're looking at is in This Workbook.

 

[scenario]

Hmmm.... I tried that earlier and IIRC I had the same problem.
See, what I'm doing is making a multi-tab spreadsheet and trying to make it look and act like a regular software program rather than a 'spreadsheet'.
So, in my full calculator (rather than the test file I put up) I hide the command bar and formula bar, set scrolling limits, etc.
As I was testing to find out where the problem existed, it appeared that any single line in Workbook_Activate or Workbook_Open that affected the interface was causing the problem.
But now you're making me curious so I'm going to go back and look at it again.

 

[scenario]

Hmmm...I tried it and I get the same behavior as you - it definitely seems buggy.

Are you using ActiveX controls for a specific reason?
The equivalent form controls don't seem to have the same problem.

After playing with it a bit I remember why I didn't use the regular spin button...

The range of numbers I need to put in is beyond the limits of regular spin button. Since I was using so many of them, I didn't want to build all the workarounds/helper-cells I was going to need.

The activex button just seemed so much simpler... until I ran into this bizarre problem.

 

[circledchicken]

Maybe this is an opportunity to try and simplify your spreadsheet (sounds a bit complex...).

Have your users asked for / need the Excel interface to be hidden or are you just doing it for effect? If the latter, i'm not sure its worth the additional effort.

 

[scenario]

Maybe this is an opportunity to try and simplify your spreadsheet (sounds a bit complex...).

Have your users asked for / need the Excel interface to be hidden or are you just doing it for effect? If the latter, i'm not sure its worth the additional effort.

Sounds complex but it's really rather simple.
What I'm doing is using Excel as the platform for a financial planning software program.
The features I'm implementing are actually designed to make the program easier to use...
Looks like a web-page when it opens with web-like navigation, etc.
And like I said earlier... it works great if people are running it using Excel 2010.

Just can't understand why in... Excel 2013... that data cells freeze but only after clicking on an ActiveX spin button... and only when I add code that affects the interface (go fullscreen, etc.) when opening the spreadsheet. Crazy. Help me. lol.

 

[scenario]

After a discussion with an admin on another board, I want to add here that I have cross-posted my question on a few other boards including Chandoo, TechNet, and LinkedIn ExcelHero.

He informed me there are Netiquette rules about cross-posting. I'm not trying to un-naturally speed up a process. I have a short term need to figure out what is going on with this Excel 2013 issue.

So, I'm looking for feedback from great posters at reputable sites. And I greatly appreciate any input.

.

 

[circledchicken]

Did you retry the suggestion from post #10 instead of full screen? That worked for me.

 

[ChrisM]

Also, keep in mind when dealing with embedded controls like this, Microsoft is not perfect in this arena, weird stuff will happen and sometimes you just have to deal with it. Hopefully not in this case though. For example, I have a spreadsheet that used a spin button to change the filters in a pivot table, rather than clicking the drop down and choosing the next value. What I found was that when I clicked the spin button, it would take a chart I was looking at about 1.5 seconds to refresh and show the new data. But if I just manually selected the value in the pivot table itself, the chart would update instantly. So sometimes weird stuff just happens.

I ended up replacing the spin button with two little command buttons, and I just drew some arrows on them like this <-- -->

 

[scenario]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will try both in my calculator later this afternoon and let you know how it works out.

 

[scenario]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Several things have happened on this since my last post. Here's the short version...

I received feedback from Microsoft suggesting I replace 'Application.DisplayFullscreen = True' with two lines:
Application.ExecuteExcel4Macro "Show.ToolBar(""Ribbon"", False)"
Application.DisplayStatusBar = False

This solved 'part' of the problem.

Just to refresh... the problem is that a workbook I created (that works perfectly fine in Excel 2010) has issues in Excel 2013. The workbook is a series of financial calculators designed to look/act like a software program... opens in full screen mode, hides the tabs and scrollbars, navigation occurs via command buttons, etc. The key issue is on worksheets where I use ActiveX spin buttons to allow the user to increase/decrease certain values, I am unable to type into input cells after I use the spin buttons. It is as if the screen becomes locked for data entry. The spin buttons continue to work and adjust values, but I can no longer type into any cells on the worksheet. I identified the use of DisplayFullScreen in the Workbook_Activate code as one of the causes. Replacing DisplayFullScreen with the lines above appeared to fix the problem. I thought I was back in business. However...

Then I found when I use 'Application.ScreenUpdating = False' and 'Application.ScreenUpdating = True' at the beginning/end of Workbook_Activate (or Workbook_Open) the same problem occurs! If I comment out the screenupdating lines... no problems. The challenge for me is that toggling screenupdating off/on is highly desirable in my workbook, so I have to figure out a fix or workaround.

Anyone have any ideas why this may be happening or what to do about it?