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Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

  1. #1
    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    I've read many posts about this but I still don't get it!

    I open a single spreadsheet xyz.xlsm. Then I run a macro that is stored in PERSONAL.XLSB (because I use it in many worksheets). So why do get the message that it is locked and asking me to choose to open it in Read Only mode? All that I read seems to imply that should only happen if I'm running a new instance of Excel, which I'm not doing here.

    And I'm 99% sure I've run it without this problem before....
    Last edited by terrypin; 12-28-2019 at 02:32 PM.
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    Administrator 6StringJazzer's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Please show all the code for the macro you are running. Also, how are you invoking it? Are you calling from other code in xyz.xlsm, or running it from the user interface? If calling it from other code, show the all calling code also.

    I agree that it looks like a new instance of Excel is starting. Can't say why without seeing all the code.
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    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Thanks @6StringJazzer. It was happening with any macro. The sequence of events:
    1. Opened a worksheet C:\Users\terry\Dropbox\FinishedWalks\20180523Ardingly-B-u657-red-m6.5.xlsm
    2. Used Alt+F8 and ran a macro from the drop-down list. That's when the message appeared.

    It's premature to be sure, as I'm still not fully understanding what's going on, and will report back later. But I discovered a file ~$PERSONAL.XLSB, which I think was created after an earlier crash (not Excel but necessitated a restart, as TM was inaccessible too). After deleting that file, the message didn't arise. But I'm now clumsily trying to unscramble a bit of a mess because there are various versions of PERSONAL.xlsb and its temporary backups.

    [Third attempt to post this reply. Repeatedly being told my 'token' has expired.]
    Last edited by terrypin; 12-29-2019 at 01:09 PM.

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    Forum Expert Bob Phillips's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    That sounds like a new instance of Excel is being started. Don't forget Excel now has MDI not SDI, maybe that is something to do with it.

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    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Sorry Bob, I'm technically way behind you; what are MDI and SDI and what's the relevance?

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    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Hopefully this screenshot is self-explanatory about another aspect of this issue.

    Attachment 655638

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    Forum Expert Bob Phillips's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Multiple and single document interface. In Excel prior to 2013 (I think that is the correct switch point), there was a single document interface, one ribbon, one QAT, one formula bar etc. for all open workbooks. Since then MS have switched to MDI, each document has it's own interface, multiple top-level windows for those components. I am not o sure about VBA, that seems to remain SDI (we know MS won't invest in VBA, MDI might have been just too much of a change for them), so I am not ure how the interact. I do know I have also had the problem yu are seeing, but I cannot recall and detials of when it happened, nor why, but I would bet it is a new Excel instance.

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    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Thanks Bob, understood.

    Any thoughts (anyone) about my last post please, about how the VBA window gets populated? Coming at it another way, what does Excel do with files in the 'special' folder \XLSStart?

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    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Unfortunately the image attachment is invalid. Attach it as an attachment proper rather than in-line, please.
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    Administrator 6StringJazzer's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Quote Originally Posted by terrypin View Post
    Hopefully this screenshot is self-explanatory about another aspect of this issue.
    That one is a surprise to me. My guess is that when Excel starts, it will attempt to open every file in the startup folder, and may look at file content to determine how to open it rather than the file name extension.

    I suggest moving all those versions of PERSONAL, except for the one and only PERSONAL.xlsb, into a temp folder (or just deleting them). That may help.

    Quote Originally Posted by terrypin View Post
    [Third attempt to post this reply. Repeatedly being told my 'token' has expired.]
    This happens if you open a thread, then let the window sit with no activity for too long before posting your reply. The workaround is to click anywhere in your reply box, CTRL-a and CTRL-c to copy your reply, hit F5 to reload the page, then paste your reply back into the reply box, then post the reply.

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    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Ali: Can you explain what's wrong with it please? I followed the usual procedure but instead of immediately displaying a thumbnail it showed it as 'Attachment 655638'. On clicking that it displays OK here, and presumably for @6StringJazzer.

    I'll try again now:
    1. Click 'Insert Image'
    2. Using the Computer tab, browsed to image and opened it
    Again that fails ti display a thumbnail, just the number bracketed within ATTACH tags.

    Attachment 655655

    OK, now I'll edit this post, starting by previewing it.

    Hmm, I'd expected that to give me access to 'Go Advanced', which (from the message at the top) I assume is key to getting this to work? But I don't see that. So using 'Manage Attachments' I browsed again to the file but clicking Upload gives a message that no file is selected. Presumably because it is already attached. So I used Remove. Now I'll resort to an uploaded version of the file. That failed too, with 'Invalid File' alongside. (BTW, clicking 'Close this window' doesn't work. Has to be closed with the browser's own icon.) What did the trick I still don't know, but it appears to have finally worked.

    Seems a long winded (or temperemental?) procedure in comparison to most forums I use!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by terrypin; 12-29-2019 at 11:35 AM.

  12. #12
    Forum Moderator AliGW's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    That one's working - the other, as I said, is reporting as an invalid attachment.

    You can attach images using Manage Attachments (as you would a workbook) - in my view, it's better that way. Try it.

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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    @6StringJazzer:

    Thanks, that's the rather bizarre conclusion I was coming to. Never before seen an application that ignores extensions!

    I'm working on it along the lines you suggest. To assist with that, and at the risk of possibly straying a bit OT, I'd like to understand how to work more efficiently in viewing macros in the VBA window.
    1. When searching for a text string, say 'LongWinded', which I know occurs in a macro somewhere, must I already know and select the correct 'project' of the four in my screenshot?
    2. When I have a macro opened in the main window, is its name always shown in one of the projects in the left pane? (Or possibly two, as I have duplicated some.)
    3. Is there any way to list the names and locations of all macros currently accessible in the VBA window. An alphabetic list would come in handy right now, having forgotten what most of my macros are supposed to do
    Last edited by terrypin; 12-29-2019 at 12:48 PM.

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    Administrator 6StringJazzer's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Quote Originally Posted by AliGW View Post
    That one's working - the other, as I said, is reporting as an invalid attachment.)
    That's funny, I did not see it inline but when I clicked on the link, the image came up.

  15. #15
    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Quote Originally Posted by 6StringJazzer View Post
    That's funny, I did not see it inline but when I clicked on the link, the image came up.
    Same here.

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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Surprisingly, Excel apparently opens anything it finds in \XLSSTART.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Just to clarify what I mean by 'inline' and 'regular' attachments:
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Thanks, I understood that, but I'm still curious what was invalid about my original inline attachment, although of course I prefer the regular type.

    The Manage Attachments route you recommended has subsequently worked fine thanks.

    Is the simpler Image tool intended to give an inline or a regular result?

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    Administrator 6StringJazzer's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Quote Originally Posted by terrypin View Post
    Thanks, I understood that, but I'm still curious what was invalid about my original inline attachment, although of course I prefer the regular type.

    The Manage Attachments route you recommended has subsequently worked fine thanks.

    Is the simpler Image tool intended to give an inline or a regular result?
    The attachments function is kind of a mess. I apologize on behalf of the forum.

    You can attach an image, and have it show up as in image right in your post, as in #11, 16, 17 of this thread. You initiate this by clicking the little icon that looks like a teensy little painting in the toolbar. I assume you have sorted that out. I have done this several times but ended up with just a text link, as in post #6, except that when you click it you get an "invalid attachment" message. I am not sure how you ended up with a text link in post #6, and one that works (at least for me). I have found a workaround of doing a preview before I do the attachment, then edit the post to attach the image. If you try to attach an image, but you attach a different type of file, it will still be attached as a text link. This causes no end of confusion.

    I have not used Manage Attachments to have an image show up in my post as an image, so I defer to Ali on that, but Manage Attachments is used for all other types of supported files. When you enter Manage Attachments you will see supported file types and corresponding size limits.

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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Surprisingly, Excel apparently opens anything it finds in \XLSSTART.
    That has always been the case, it's the same if you create an alternate start up location in options.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  21. #21
    Forum Contributor terrypin's Avatar
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    Re: Why this message about PERSONAL.xlsb?

    Thanks both, understood.

    The XLSSTART thing was surprising for me.

    Reckon I'll stick with Manage Attachments now that I've had several successes with it.

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