Forum Discussion
Object appears only on printout
Yan_Woellhaf Based on what you've described, the most logical explanation is the VBA code is using the Range.Copy method to transfer the data to the hidden sheets. For example:
Sub CopyPasteAll() Sheet1.Range("A1:C15").Copy Sheet2.Range("A1") Application.CutCopyMode = False End SubWhen you copy/paste a range, it will include any shapes present in that range; furthermore, any subsequent copy/paste procedures will not overwrite shapes in the destination range (they will persist). At some point, a user inserted the blue arrow into their input sheet, then ran the VBA code, which transferred the arrows to the hidden sheets, and they've been there ever since.
Consider an alternative method for transferring the data. For example, use the Range.PasteSpecial method to paste values only:
Sub CopyPasteSpecial() Sheet1.Range("A1:C15").Copy Sheet2.Range("A1").PasteSpecial xlPasteValues Application.CutCopyMode = False End SubA more efficient method, though, would be to copy the source range to an array, then output the values to the destination range:
Sub CopyToFromArray() Dim arr As Variant arr = Sheet1.Range("A1:C15").Value Sheet2.Range("A1").Resize(UBound(arr, 1), UBound(arr, 2)).Value = arr End SubWithout seeing your code, this is just my "best guess". Hopefully it applies to your situation and can be adapted to meet your needs. If not, then please disregard. Cheers!
Yan_Woellhaf My last suggestion would be to try the Document Inspector to check for Invisible Content (or any other options you might find applicable). Make a backup copy of your file first, though, in case anything goes wrong. Go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document, then select any applicable options to Inspect.
The problem Workbook helps the user create and print a daily schedule for teams 1, and 2.
The main sheet is a form that automatically fills in the header and helps the user enter the tasks for the day.
It's been in use five times a week for the past couple years, with no problems. Only very recently have the blue arrows appeared on the printout.
When I reviewed the VBA code, I realized I'd forgotten all about the dozen or so hidden sheets in the Workbook.
When the user clicks Print on the form, data from the input form is transferred to two separate hidden sheets, one for team 1 and one for team 2. Much of the information is the same, but the tasks are different.
When I looked at the hidden sheets I saw the arrow Shapes. I checked the Don't Print checkbox and, as expected, the arrows didn't print. I was also able to delete them and verified they weren't added when the Workbook was closed and repopened.
So the problem of the blue arrows appearing on the printouts is solved, but a HUGE question remains: How did these identical shapes get added to two different sheets in the exact same position?
Thanks to all for the very useful suggestions. I'm embarrassed to have forgotten about the obvious -- the hidden sheets that are printed.
Jan
Congratulations on finding the cause of the arrows. We may never know how they ended up on the visible sheets...
Yan_Woellhaf Based on what you've described, the most logical explanation is the VBA code is using the Range.Copy method to transfer the data to the hidden sheets. For example:
Sub CopyPasteAll() Sheet1.Range("A1:C15").Copy Sheet2.Range("A1") Application.CutCopyMode = False End SubWhen you copy/paste a range, it will include any shapes present in that range; furthermore, any subsequent copy/paste procedures will not overwrite shapes in the destination range (they will persist). At some point, a user inserted the blue arrow into their input sheet, then ran the VBA code, which transferred the arrows to the hidden sheets, and they've been there ever since.
Consider an alternative method for transferring the data. For example, use the Range.PasteSpecial method to paste values only:
Sub CopyPasteSpecial() Sheet1.Range("A1:C15").Copy Sheet2.Range("A1").PasteSpecial xlPasteValues Application.CutCopyMode = False End SubA more efficient method, though, would be to copy the source range to an array, then output the values to the destination range:
Sub CopyToFromArray() Dim arr As Variant arr = Sheet1.Range("A1:C15").Value Sheet2.Range("A1").Resize(UBound(arr, 1), UBound(arr, 2)).Value = arr End SubWithout seeing your code, this is just my "best guess". Hopefully it applies to your situation and can be adapted to meet your needs. If not, then please disregard. Cheers!
- Many thanks, djclements!
I think your scenario is very likely. I did not know about the persistence of shapes and that explains a great deal!
Again, many thanks.
Jan
