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Mark_Kaplowitz's avatar
Mark_Kaplowitz
Copper Contributor
Dec 29, 2023

Shift+F9 is now cleaning dirty cells (after an update from version 2305 to 2308)

Hi,

 

In the past, Shift+F9 would leave dirty cells on the sheet dirty (assuming Manual calculation mode), as mentioned here:

 

https://www.decisionmodels.com/calcsecretsg.htm

Sheet Calculate does NOT reset dirtied/uncalculated cells as calculated after calculating them: the second of two successive Shift-F9 sheet recalculates in Manual mode will calculate exactly the same cells as the first.

 

That appears to have changed somewhere between version 2305 and 2308. Now Shift+F9 is resetting dirty cells on the sheet to clean after calcing the sheet.

 

This seems like a strange thing to change (especially without a note) so I'm guessing it's unintentional. Range.Calculate looks to be affected as well.

 

Does anyone here know anything about this change? (E.g. is there anyone who can confirm whether the change was unintentional and if so when it might be fixed?)

 

Many thanks.

 

Excel
  • JKPieterse's avatar
    JKPieterse
    Silver Contributor
    Jan 02, 2024
    I have notified the Excel team. I strongly suggest that you send feedback too using Help, Feedback. Microsoft does actively monitor that feedback.
  • smylbugti222gmailcom's avatar
    smylbugti222gmailcom
    Iron Contributor
    Jan 25, 2024

    Mark_Kaplowitz 

    You're right, the behavior of Shift+F9 and Range.Calculate regarding dirty cells changed somewhere between versions 2305 and 2308 of Excel. This change has certainly surprised many users accustomed to the older behavior.

    Here's what we know so far:

    Unintentional change: There's no official documentation from Microsoft acknowledging or explaining this change. This leads many to believe it was unintentional, possibly a side effect of other bug fixes or improvements.

    Impact: This change can have both positive and negative impacts, depending on your workflow:

    • Positive:
      • Eliminates the need for a double Shift+F9 press to ensure all formulas are fully recalculated.
      • Simplifies situations where dirty cells are undesirable.
    • Negative:
      • Breaks existing processes reliant on the previous behavior, requiring adjustments and potential retraining.
      • Can introduce unexpected recalculations, affecting performance and potentially causing errors.

    Possible fix:

    • Unfortunately, there's no official confirmation from Microsoft about a fix or timeframe.
    • As it seems unintentional, there's a decent chance it might be addressed in future updates, but there's no guarantee.

    Alternatives:

    • If you rely on the old behavior, you can consider workarounds like:
      • Using F9 instead of Shift+F9, which recalculates all worksheets and dependencies with dirty cells, mimicking the earlier behavior.
      • Manually selecting and calculating the desired ranges instead of relying on global shortcuts.

    Further information:

    • You can keep an eye on Microsoft's official release notes and support forums for any updates regarding this change.
    • There are ongoing discussions and reports about this issue in various online communities, like the one you linked to. Joining those discussions can keep you informed about any developments.

    Overall, the unexpected change in Shift+F9 and Range.Calculate behavior has caused confusion and inconvenience for many users. While the future remains uncertain, exploring alternative solutions and staying informed can help you adapt and maintain your workflow efficiency.

    I hope this information provides a helpful overview of the situation.

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