Cannot view control properties in Excel 2007

[Richard Stringfellow]

I have used Excel 2003 for years, and have some experience with VBA. I recently installed Excel 2007 Enterprise, because I needed additional columns, and added the Developer tab.
I exported a workbook created in Excel 2003, and although I had no problem viewing control properties in that version, I cannot view them in Excel 2007. All I am able to see are the Worksheet properties. I don't understand.

[protonLeah]

If they are ActiveX controls, try: On the Developer tab, select Design Mode and right click the control.

[Norie]

Control properties of what exactly?

[Richard Stringfellow]

Thank you both for responding. The control is a ComboBox, and the problem exhibits in the Context Menu.

In the version originally created in and imported from Excel 2003, the right-click context menu offers these options: Cut, Copy, Paste (grayed-out)/ Properties, View Code/ComboBox Object/Grouping, Order/Format Control. In the version created in Excel 2007, the right-click context menu offers these options: Cut, Copy, Paste (grayed-out)/Grouping, Order/Assign Macro, Format Control. In other words, "Properties" and "View Code" have disappeared; "Assign Macro" has appeared.

One other thing, though I don't know whether it is relevant: on the Developer tab in 2007, "Map Properties" is grayed-out.

Do I need to download and install an XML expansion pack? I ran across this term in researching the problem, but I don't know what it means, for sure, or whether it would be worth trying. I've adjusted the Trust Settings/Macro Settings in every imaginable way, to no avail.

The only thing I haven't tried is throwing the computer out into the snow, but I'm just about there.

[Norie]

Any chance you could upload a sample workbook?

Click on GO ADVANCED and use the paperclip icon to open the upload window.

[Richard Stringfellow]

Yes, however, that will take time. The only thing I use the Dell for is Excel. I've kept it air-gapped ever since McAfee destroyed the registry, which cost me $180 to have restored. I did poke a dongle in it to download MSO 2007, but all my internet traffic is done on a MacBook Air, which is what I used to join this forum, and what I am using to submit this post. If the problem can be resolved without posting from the Dell, I would prefer that.

[Richard Stringfellow]

I guess my first question is, can one view Control Properties in Excel 2007? Since I can't imagine that that is not possible, my next question is, How? There must be some setting or add-in I'm unaware of.

[LJMetzger]

ProtonLeah's response should work.

The following response is OFF TOPIC.
This is the right answer to the wrong question, which is attempting to use Excel 2007+ 'Active X' files on Excel 2003. I am leaving it here as it may help someone else.

You have come across the 'Active X' incompatibility between Excel 2003 and later versions of Excel. This manifests itself with the following behavior:
a. Excel 2003 files containing 'Active X' work fine in Excel 2007+ versions of Excel.
b. Excel 2007+ files containing 'Active X' will generate an error when attempting to use VBA in Excel 2003. The runtime errors I usually see are 32809 and 57121.

Unfortunately, the workaround I use is very ugly.

When attempting to use Excel 2003 for a file containing 'Active X' created in Excel 2007+:
a. Delete all the 'Active X' Controls on each Sheet.
b. Make a copy of each sheet that had an 'Active X' control.
c. Delete the original Sheets that had the Active 'X' controls.
d. Rename the Copied Sheets back to the Name of the Original Sheets.
e. Save the file. Close the File. Reopen the file.
f. Recreate the 'Active X' controls.

Whenver I have to use 'Active X' controls, I create them using VBA to minimize the pain, when there is a corruption, since 'Active X' controls don't seem to play nicely with others, even if not moving between Excel Versions.

I try to avoid 'Active X' controls in favor of Shapes, Forms Controls, or UserForms.

I hope this helps.

Lewis