Suddenly can't insert text box, Why?

Worked on a spreadsheet and could insert text boxes and now I can't insert
text boxes or graphics, and the spreadsheet is not protected.

If the workbook is shared, you won't be able to insert text boxes or
graphics.

To turn off sharing, choose Tools>Share Workbook.
On the Editing tab, remove the check mark from 'Allow changes by more
than one user at the same time.'
Click OK
Click Yes, if you want to confirm the change.

Fairmont wrote:
> Worked on a spreadsheet and could insert text boxes and now I can't insert
> text boxes or graphics, and the spreadsheet is not protected.


--
Debra Dalgleish
Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html

I had this same problem - could not insert text box into an Excel file that I had been using for a long time - created on Excel 2003 but being worked on in Excel 2007 (not even sure if that's relevant.)

Actually, I googled my problem and ended up here, but nothing here (or anywhere else) helped fix it. I finally opened a new sheet, did a Select All in the old one, and dumped the whole package into the new sheet. Column widths and Row heights were lost, but when I checked the Insert menu, Text Box was no longer ghosted out, so reformatting the columns and rows seemed worthwhile.

I do not promote this as an elegant solution, but at least I proved that it is possible to "go around" this text box problem if necessary.

Originally Posted by Fairmont

Worked on a spreadsheet and could insert text boxes and now I can't insert
text boxes or graphics, and the spreadsheet is not protected.

The simplest possibility is you have multiple sheets highlighted at the bottom, in which case you are not allowed to insert any objects.

There are 3 reasons:

1. You have multiple worksheets selected
2. Your workbook is shared
3. The option is turned off

Option 3 was my problem, have no idea how it changed.

Option 3 fix is:

File
Options
Advanced
Scroll halfway down to Display options for this workbook
For objects, show
select ALL

I know this is an old thread, but wanted to add my solution in case anyone else finds themselves here. For me, it was option 3 as described by zx6roo. You can also toggle this by clicking CTRL + 6, which will hide objects (or unhide if toggled again). I accidentally clicked this when trying to strikethrough items.

Originally Posted by zx6roo

There are 3 reasons:

1. You have multiple worksheets selected
2. Your workbook is shared
3. The option is turned off

Option 3 was my problem, have no idea how it changed.

Option 3 fix is:

File
Options
Advanced
Scroll halfway down to Display options for this workbook
For objects, show
select ALL

That works in 2023! Many greetings from Istanbul, Turkey.

Option 3 going strong in 2024.