invisible AutoShapes and images are driving me insane, please help me delete them

I have joined this forum just to ask this one question that googling has not been able to answer for me:

I have many excel docs that contain exported information from our ERP system that contain literally hundreds of, if not more, invisible AUTOPSHAPES and images and I need to remove them. These AutoShapes multiply rapidly, are layered on top of each other by the dozens, and bog down the files causing lags and crashes. Unfortunately though, these documents also contain images that are required, so all of the readily available solutions I've found via google that would delete those as well are not helpful. I have tried accessing the selection pane but there are simply so many AutoShapes and images that trying to select all and then just ctrl+deselecting the Pictures crashes the program.

Please give me some solution, some VBA that I can copy and paste to solve this. But please keep in mind that I am no excel developer, I have no idea what I am doing, I am just desperate for a solution and coming to you all for any help I can get. Please and TIA.

Additional info, not sure if relevant, all of the AutoShapes seem to be named AutoShape 1 - 6, mostly "AutoShape 4" for some reason. There may be others but I have yet to find any beyond 6. And the images are just named "image". The pictures I want to keep all are named "Picture ###" or "Imagen ###", so I feel like that should help narrow down a way to eliminate and keep items selectively?? Yes, that is Imagen, not image spelled incorrectly.

Please save me from my excel torture. Bonus point if you also know how to prevent this from happening again.

you can download a redacted version of one of these files here:

https: //we.tl/t-YxyG6csFO2 (sorry I can't make this a hyperlink, new account and don't have access, please delete the space)

there are a few Pictures that are needed and then there are hundreds of invisible AutoShapes and Images....

You could try something along these lines

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hmm well at least we know how many there are.

Assuming the ones you want to keep are visible, you could try it like this to delete the hidden ones.

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Good point.

I guess I should have used.

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Originally Posted by ByteMarks

Good point.

I guess I should have used.

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The solution has to be this

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because of the space between "AUTOSHAPE" and the "*" and "IMAGE" and the "*".

If the space is not removed, 278 shapes remain to be deleted

I still think assessing the visibility is the most reliable, especially without seeing the workbook

Originally Posted by ByteMarks

I still think assessing the visibility is the most reliable, especially without seeing the workbook

I would also agree with what you say if the shapes were invisible, the problem is that the shapes are visible but they don't have an outline or are filled, so it has to be your first solution with the rectification you did, ".... UCASE...."

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Ah, in that case you're quite right.

Originally Posted by JCabral

I think the problem may be in the name of the Shapes, that is, the "like" instruction is not case sensitive?

I tried changing the instruction

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for

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And deleted all 5084 shapes

This worked to delete all of the autoshapes! However it did take a few of the wanted images with it as well. My "Picture*" images remained but my "Imagen*" images got deleted. Is there a way we can make sure those stay?

Try it this way which should delete all of them that don't start with Picture or Imagen

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but have cleared my desktop & emptied my recycle bin !!

First person I've known to do that

Originally Posted by ByteMarks

Try it this way which should delete all of them that don't start with Picture or Imagen

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IT WORKS! Thank you everyone! I'm happy to say that my document is no longer haunted by autoshape ghosts.

Next question - any idea how they got there in the first place? My theory is that it has something to do with exporting data from Sage X3 to make these documents, but I don't know enough about how that works to advise my data team.

https: //docs.google. com/spreadsheets/d/10sj9jvrNpDIpXnTDOAeo5Kq2-cUAzisp/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=105678720280845131017&rtpof=true&sd=true

If anyone else wants to see the sample file that is filled with over 5000 ghosts, you can download it here.
Note: delete the 2 spaces in the address, I still cant post links.

approved. and opened up access to anyone with the link.
have fun hunting ghosts