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I have a lot of Excel sheets for all sorts of things - but none has ever acted up like this one here:

troubled excel sheet

This used to be a totally normal Excel 2007 sheet which I was able to resize, maximize etc. - but not anymore. The MDI child window is fixed, both in position and size. I cannot move it around, more can I maximize it to use the full size of the screen anymore. I cannot double-click on it's title bar to maximize it either :-(

What happened? What can I do to "undo" whatever I did to it.

Any ideas? I tried to share / undo sharing, I tried to protect / unprotect the sheet - nothing seems to work...

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I'm sorry, but I'm totally lost as to what your problem is. That could totally be just me though.... – Chris Thompson Apr 27 '10 at 22:37
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@Chris The MDI window that contains the spreadsheet doesn't have any controls (Maximize, Minimize, etc.). – Michael Todd Apr 27 '10 at 22:46
@CHris Thompson: yes, the MDI window is fixed, in position and size, and I can't seem to get it to resize or move anymore.... – marc_s Apr 28 '10 at 5:10
AHHH, it's funny how I didn't even notice that! My bad! – Chris Thompson Apr 28 '10 at 21:18
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i think you need to remove the glass filter you have over your screen ;) – RCIX Apr 30 '10 at 3:15
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3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Go to Review > Changes > Protect Workbook, and uncheck Protect Structure and Windows option. If you have set a password for it, Excel will prompt you to enter it. Otherwise, just hit enter to remove the structure and window protection.

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Thanks - I can see that that option "Protect Structure and Windows" is checked - but it's grayed out, I can't uncheck it..... any ideas?? – marc_s Apr 28 '10 at 19:18
Attempt #2 - solved it! The workbook was shared, for some weird reason. Once I've removed the sharing, I was able to uncheck that "Protect Structure and Windows" option and that solved it - thanks so much !! – marc_s Apr 28 '10 at 19:20
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This means that your workbook is protected. To remove protection, under Review > Changes, you should click on Unprotect Shared Workbook (which stands at the upper-right corner of Changes box). Then you can uncheck Protect Structure and Windows option. – Mehper C. Palavuzlar Apr 28 '10 at 19:29
While I was writing my above comment, you solved it yourself. You're welcome, and good luck with Excel ;) – Mehper C. Palavuzlar Apr 28 '10 at 19:31
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up vote 3 down vote

One way that can be done is through VBA. See here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/137033

And another VBA method: http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41720

See if there are any macros associated with this sheet.

It's also possible that this is due to Workbook protection: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:02brqfAzeN4J:office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP052035251033.aspx+remove+maximize+minimize+spreadsheet+window+excel&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

UPDATE: I've been able to duplicate that issue in Excel 2007, and it is a worksheet protection issue.

In Excel 2007, select the Review tab, then click the Protect Workbook button and uncheck Protect Structures and Windows.

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Unfortunately, that "workbook protection" link refers to Excel 2003, and in Excel 2007, there's no "Tools" / "Protection" menu :-( – marc_s Apr 28 '10 at 5:14
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up vote 1 down vote

My guess is whatever is wrong the answer is in the "View" menu.

Try double clicking the title bar where it says "Einkuaf2010" to maximize it.

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Tried that - no luck - nothing happens – marc_s Apr 28 '10 at 5:11
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