Autofilter's drop down list goes missing

I am using autofilter on a two excel work sheets.
Randomly the drop down arrows locks up and will not display the drop
down lists.
If I uncheck autofilter and reselect the data then reselect autofilter
it enables the drop down arrows again, although this does not always
work, some times I have to close excel and open it again.
The document was originally created in excel 2000 but the problem is
occurring in excel 2003.
I have been able recreate the problem on separate machines different
hardware (Compaq and Dell), so I know the hardware is not the issue.
Again the method of reproducing the error seems random, there does not
seem to be any real steps to making the problem occur, it just happens.
I have googled and searched the MS kbase, and have not come across this
error.
I was wondering if anyone else had come across this problem or knows a
resolution to it.
(And, no there are less then 1000 items in the list)

hi, Paul !

> ... using autofilter... Randomly the drop down arrows locks up and will not display
> ... If I uncheck autofilter and reselect the data then reselect autofilter it enables the drop down arrows again
> ... some times I have to close excel and open it again.
> ... originally created in excel 2000 but the problem is occurring in excel 2003 [...]

[just guessing]...
if this only happens when you are in 2003, maybe (inadvertently) control+Q has been pressed
you can possibly see a blue border surrounding the list (if this has not been removed)
see if excel 2003 data/list feature applies to this behavior...
http://www.uncc.edu/sysdev/HowTos/Excel/List.htm

hth,
hector.

Hi hector, I'm pretty sure that nothing is pressed, it's as though it
just stops functioning.
And I just tried it now, that's not it. Thanks for the suggestion
though. I think this may be a bug within excel or maybe the worksheet
is corrupted.

Still looking for the answer. (excel 2003)
I have the same issue as Paul - for no apperant reason my autofilter drop
downs just stop working ( a major inconvienance and time waste).

Thank you Paul, I thought I was the only one.
I'm suprised more aren't having this problem.

"Paul" wrote:

> I am using autofilter on a two excel work sheets.
> Randomly the drop down arrows locks up and will not display the drop
> down lists.
> If I uncheck autofilter and reselect the data then reselect autofilter
> it enables the drop down arrows again, although this does not always
> work, some times I have to close excel and open it again.
> The document was originally created in excel 2000 but the problem is
> occurring in excel 2003.
> I have been able recreate the problem on separate machines different
> hardware (Compaq and Dell), so I know the hardware is not the issue.
> Again the method of reproducing the error seems random, there does not
> seem to be any real steps to making the problem occur, it just happens.
> I have googled and searched the MS kbase, and have not come across this
> error.
> I was wondering if anyone else had come across this problem or knows a
> resolution to it.
> (And, no there are less then 1000 items in the list)
>
>

Have you been deleting names from your workbook indiscriminately?

Maybe with code like this:

Option Explicit
Sub testme()
Dim myName As Name
For Each myName In ActiveWorkbook.Names
myName.Delete
Next myName
End Sub


If yes, then you could have deleted a hidden name created by excel.

Maybe this'll help...

Select your cells with the arrows -- just the header row is enough.

Then Insert|name|Define
in the names in workbook box, type this:

'Sheet1'!_FilterDatabase

(change sheet1 to match your worksheet name.)


mjhaifleigh wrote:
>
> Still looking for the answer. (excel 2003)
> I have the same issue as Paul - for no apperant reason my autofilter drop
> downs just stop working ( a major inconvienance and time waste).
>
> Thank you Paul, I thought I was the only one.
> I'm suprised more aren't having this problem.
>
> "Paul" wrote:
>
> > I am using autofilter on a two excel work sheets.
> > Randomly the drop down arrows locks up and will not display the drop
> > down lists.
> > If I uncheck autofilter and reselect the data then reselect autofilter
> > it enables the drop down arrows again, although this does not always
> > work, some times I have to close excel and open it again.
> > The document was originally created in excel 2000 but the problem is
> > occurring in excel 2003.
> > I have been able recreate the problem on separate machines different
> > hardware (Compaq and Dell), so I know the hardware is not the issue.
> > Again the method of reproducing the error seems random, there does not
> > seem to be any real steps to making the problem occur, it just happens.
> > I have googled and searched the MS kbase, and have not come across this
> > error.
> > I was wondering if anyone else had come across this problem or knows a
> > resolution to it.
> > (And, no there are less then 1000 items in the list)
> >
> >

--

Dave Peterson