How do I unhighlight?

3FingerSalute · Apr 9th, 2002, 02:19 PM

Often when I'm knee deep into my spreadsheet, and I attempt to highlight one cell, it will start highlighting the entire page. I can't find a way to unhighlight and always end up doing control alt del. I've activated autosave ( thank goodness for that) but have often lost data. Has anyone else run into this problem? And do you know a fix?

PerfectTommy · Apr 9th, 2002, 02:27 PM

There are two ways to 'unhighlight'.
First, when you realize that you have highlighted more than you wanted, stop moving the mouse BUT DON'T RELEASE THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON. Now just move the pointer back (up, left, or diagonally) and you will begin to 'unhighlight'. Stop when you have the correct area highlighted.
Second, if you have highlighted an area that is too large (or too small) simply click on a part of the worksheet that is not highlighted. This will clear what you have highlighted, allowing you to begin again.

3FingerSalute · Apr 9th, 2002, 02:42 PM

Thanks....What I mean is that it won't unhighlight when I release the left mouse button. At that point, with the left mouse button free, if I move the mouse,,,it highlights everything in it's path. I could highlight into oblivion! It's like it gets stuck. That's when I have to give it the 3 finger salute.

Tim Francis-Wright · Apr 9th, 2002, 03:23 PM

ASAP Utilities has a handy unselect feature.
It's free:

http://www.asap-utilities.com

Jack in the UK · Apr 9th, 2002, 03:38 PM

Hi Guys

I would like to suggest a Govenment secret well in the UK any rate please it did not come from me else they will hang me!

try this top secret fix:

choose the CRTL hit and repeatatly hit the key (not hard) but click click click c c c c c c c c c click FAST

now pick on the shift key another national secret the right hand side one again click it click c c c c c c c c click

now pick n key cap lock and click c c c c c c c c c now re do them all aon any old order for say 3 or three seconds each a couple of times each

.. top secret :

now selct a cell and highlight it and now move the mouse is she free no other high licting???

not highlight another...

and unhighlight the original cell you highlighted..

still with me

SAVE

.. ai my girlfriend Excel free now....

if so let me know and ill expalin to the world why.. if not ill hang for sure.

3FingerSalute · Apr 9th, 2002, 03:49 PM

Wow. Well...I'll try that next time it happens!

Thanks everyone

Jack in the UK · Apr 9th, 2002, 04:05 PM

Hi

No im not being silly if light hearted. MI5 MI6 SAS CIS FBI KGB MickMouse kebab all top secret ..

might work i have done this trick for years, please tell me if this worksks... just might then ill tell you why...

Space shuttle secret .. no not really. shoul;d add to MCSE cource as standard opperating procedures.

3FingerSalute · Apr 10th, 2002, 01:14 PM

Ok Jack....
I tried the top secret fix and it didn't work

This seems to happen to me daily. What a bummer. I can't believe no one knows a fix for this. It happens to a lot of people I know who use excel.

Jack in the UK · Apr 10th, 2002, 01:34 PM

HI

Thats a big smame my ideas was to free the micro chip in the keyboard thats stick and locks odd ways banging these keys releases it, i hope it works common where oi work..like it no caps locks and no caps lock on same things

sorry this did not work...

Apr 9th, 2002, 03:23 PM	#4
Tim Francis-Wright Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 74	ASAP Utilities has a handy unselect feature. It's free: http://www.asap-utilities.com __________________ "Interfere? Of course we should interfere! Always do what you're best at, that's what I say!" -- The Doctor, Nightmare of Eden

Apr 9th, 2002, 03:38 PM	#5
Jack in the UK Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,065	Hi Guys I would like to suggest a Govenment secret well in the UK any rate please it did not come from me else they will hang me! try this top secret fix: choose the CRTL hit and repeatatly hit the key (not hard) but click click click c c c c c c c c c click FAST now pick on the shift key another national secret the right hand side one again click it click c c c c c c c c click now pick n key cap lock and click c c c c c c c c c now re do them all aon any old order for say 3 or three seconds each a couple of times each .. top secret : now selct a cell and highlight it and now move the mouse is she free no other high licting??? not highlight another... and unhighlight the original cell you highlighted.. still with me SAVE .. ai my girlfriend Excel free now.... if so let me know and ill expalin to the world why.. if not ill hang for sure. __________________ Free Excel based Web Toolbar available here. Jack in the UK J & R Excel Solutions "making Excel work for you"

Apr 9th, 2002, 04:05 PM	#7
Jack in the UK Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,065	Hi No im not being silly if light hearted. MI5 MI6 SAS CIS FBI KGB MickMouse kebab all top secret .. might work i have done this trick for years, please tell me if this worksks... just might then ill tell you why... Space shuttle secret .. no not really. shoul;d add to MCSE cource as standard opperating procedures. __________________ Free Excel based Web Toolbar available here. Jack in the UK J & R Excel Solutions "making Excel work for you"

Apr 10th, 2002, 01:34 PM	#9
Jack in the UK Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,065	HI Thats a big smame my ideas was to free the micro chip in the keyboard thats stick and locks odd ways banging these keys releases it, i hope it works common where oi work..like it no caps locks and no caps lock on same things sorry this did not work... __________________ Free Excel based Web Toolbar available here. Jack in the UK J & R Excel Solutions "making Excel work for you"

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Apr 9th, 2002, 02:19 PM	#1
3FingerSalute New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 4	Often when I'm knee deep into my spreadsheet, and I attempt to highlight one cell, it will start highlighting the entire page. I can't find a way to unhighlight and always end up doing control alt del. I've activated autosave ( thank goodness for that) but have often lost data. Has anyone else run into this problem? And do you know a fix?

Apr 9th, 2002, 02:27 PM	#2
PerfectTommy New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 15	There are two ways to 'unhighlight'. First, when you realize that you have highlighted more than you wanted, stop moving the mouse BUT DON'T RELEASE THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON. Now just move the pointer back (up, left, or diagonally) and you will begin to 'unhighlight'. Stop when you have the correct area highlighted. Second, if you have highlighted an area that is too large (or too small) simply click on a part of the worksheet that is not highlighted. This will clear what you have highlighted, allowing you to begin again.

Apr 9th, 2002, 02:42 PM	#3
3FingerSalute New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 4	Thanks....What I mean is that it won't unhighlight when I release the left mouse button. At that point, with the left mouse button free, if I move the mouse,,,it highlights everything in it's path. I could highlight into oblivion! It's like it gets stuck. That's when I have to give it the 3 finger salute.

Apr 9th, 2002, 03:49 PM	#6
3FingerSalute New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 4	Wow. Well...I'll try that next time it happens! Thanks everyone

Apr 10th, 2002, 01:14 PM	#8
3FingerSalute New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 4	Ok Jack.... I tried the top secret fix and it didn't work This seems to happen to me daily. What a bummer. I can't believe no one knows a fix for this. It happens to a lot of people I know who use excel.