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Perry320's avatar
Perry320
Copper Contributor
Jan 17, 2024

My macros are disappearing

My macros are disappearing.  It seems to be random.  There are several tricks I can use to get them back, but the problem keeps coming back.  
Macros and VBA
Perry320's avatar
Perry320
Copper Contributor
Jan 17, 2024
Thanks a bunch for the responses. I think the answer lies in a combination of your suggestions. I am going to uninstall and re-install Office 365. And cross my fingers. The reason I don't think many of your solutions don't apply is because the macro vanishing is so random. I have one file that has never crashed, and others that crash maybe every third time I open them. I'm new here, so I don't know if this answer will show on the thread. If it does, I'll post the workarounds I've discovered. I have always been able to get them to show up, but that's not a real solution. Thanks again.
Perry320's avatar
Perry320
Copper Contributor
Jan 17, 2024
Ok... here are some workarounds. Not solutions. But one of them has always gotten my macros back. The easiest: IF you can get into a VBA module, simply hit the RUN button ON THE VBA ribbon. This runs one of the macros and seems to reset the rest. The problem is, that usually, you can't get into a module. Another: If Excel hangs up when you are trying to get into the macro screen, click the red X button on the top right of the screen as quickly as you can. Then when it appears, hit the RESTART button. Another: make a Word document with your macros. Again, IF you can get into the VBA modules, you can paste the Word copy into it and that will work. Another: This one takes a while. Copy the problem file on an exterior hard drive. Open it on a different computer. When it opens, click YES on the Enable Functions button. Save the file on the exterior drive, and save back to the original computer. That one has always worked, but it is a pain.
  • Nevin930's avatar
    Nevin930
    Copper Contributor
    Feb 16, 2024

    Perry320 We have been having the same issues with all our users. Restoring the file to a previous known working version is the easiest solution. Today, 2/16/24, we are testing having some users move to Office 2021 LTSC to see if its an issue with Office 365. 

    • eluebehusen's avatar
      eluebehusen
      Copper Contributor
      Apr 02, 2024

      Nevin930 I have the same thing happen with my macro-heavy workbooks, and it's gotten so bad that I  am constantly saving backup versions to date-coded folders (with descriptions of any changes) cos this problem is arbitrary, chronic, and infuriating.  In some cases, my previously-fine backups (I always check to see if the macros are there with [ALT]-[F8] before closing) are likewise corrupted.  This has been going on for years, and the "just back up every new version" has become the only way to save my work from total Excel annihilation.

      • Perry320's avatar
        Perry320
        Copper Contributor
        Apr 02, 2024

        It's April 2, and I still haven't had one macro disappear.  Since my last post, I have discovered another workaround.  Buttons.  I was able to get rid of 26 macros on one file by using option buttons.  On another file, radio buttons.  But I still have a couple simple ones, and they haven't vanished.  I MIGHT have remembered the icon that mysteriously appeared on my computer:  One Drive.  I'm not sure, but I saw the icon somewhere, and it struck a cord.  Good luck.  I was on the brink of giving up a project I had been working on for a year because of this problem.    

    • Perry320's avatar
      Perry320
      Copper Contributor
      Feb 16, 2024

      I didn't post this on the main thread because I had no absolute answer.  Here is what happened:  I discovered an icon on my screen that I didn't put there.  I checked my downloads and there it was.  I could shoot myself for not making a note of what it was, but I didn't.  I deleted it.  Since I did that not ONE of my macros has disappeared. Not a single problem.  I'm not 100% sure it was that download... but...  awfully big coincidence if it wasn't.  Like I said, since I wasn't sure of anything, and didn't remember the name of the download, so I didn't want to post a response.  Nevin930 

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