Just to add...

I closed excel, deleted my *.xlb and restarted excel. Excel started ok.

But when I closed excel, that *.xlb file got created--and I didn't modify any
toolbar.

======
To the OP.

Try looking this way:
Close excel
Windows start button|Run
type this and hit enter:
%appdata%

This should take you to something like:
C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data

Now open the Microsoft folder, then the Excel folder.
C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel

Look for *.xlb (and delete any you find)

And then look in the XLStart folder.
Delete any *.xlb files you find there.

===========
If you have a *.xlb file in your xlstart folder, then you'll see the problem you
describe. The "real" toolbar is, er, should not be in the XLStart folder.

When excel starts, you'll see the "real" toolbar (if your eyes are good
enough!). But the *.xlb file in XLStart will be loaded automatically--and it'll
replace the "real" version.

Make changes and close excel. The *.xlb file that gets updated is the "real"
version. But the next time you open excel, you'll see the (not updated) version
from XLStart.



Gord Dibben wrote:

Likewise for me.

You cannot run Excel without an *.xlb file

Gord

On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:20:17 -0500, Dave Peterson
wrote:

Except for looking again, I'm out of suggestions.

Griffinspc wrote:

OK, tried both Gord's and Dave's last suggestions. No luck with either. It
seems weirder and weirder. I found one other XLSTART folder but it was empty
and I'm obviously stumped.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

Reinstalling excel won't help.

*.xlb is one of the files that excel knows not to destroy when you
uninstall/reinstall.

I'm betting that you still haven't found all of them yet.

Search again and delete the ones you find.

But then use windows search for a folder named XLStart (depending on your
upgrade path, you may have multiple XLStart folders, too!).

Then open those folders to see if you have *.xlb files in any of those.

Griffinspc wrote:

Only one found in the command line search in the same location. I deleted it
again and made a few changes to the toolbar, closed excel. checked the xlb
file and the toolbar shows my changes. Closed it and opened Excel and no
changes. It seemed logical that there was a 2nd xbl file but no luck. So
where is my Excel pointing?

Would it do me any good to uninstall Excel and reinstall or is this a
registry issue so the new install will be looking at the same file? I've had
to delete the normal.dot file before in Word and had noting like this happen.

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

You haven't found all of them yet.

Maybe this will help:

Close excel

Windows Start button|Run
type:
CMD
(to get to the Command prompt)

C:
(to get to the C: drive--change this to the drive that excel is installed on)

cd\
(to get to the root directory)

dir *.xlb /s

The /s says to search subfolders, too.

Make a note of the locations of the found files and then delete those files.

Then try modifying your toolbar again, close excel and reopen to see if the
changes are still there.

Griffinspc wrote:

I have modified my Excel toolbars many times with no problem however on this
new machine at work with Office 2003 and all service packs, etc., the changes
I make are not retained when i close and open Excel. I've tried the Detect &
Repair and looked for any Office updates and all are current. Help.

--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson