INS Key Doesn't Turn on Overtype/Display OVR in Status Bar (131627)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0c
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 4.0
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 3.0a
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 2.10d
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 2.1
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 2.01
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 2.0
- Microsoft Excel for Windows NT 5.0
This article was previously published under Q131627 SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you press INSERT, overtype may not be turned
on and the text OVR may not appear in the status bar.
CAUSE
This behavior occurs when the formula bar is not active: that is, you are
not currently editing a cell. This behavior is by design of Microsoft
Excel. Overtype mode is used for typing new text over existing text. You
can activate overtype mode in Microsoft Excel by pressing INSERT while
editing the contents of a cell on your worksheet. When this key is
activated, the status bar displays OVR (overtype) and the characters that
you type replace the characters in the active cell instead of being added
to the existing characters.
RESOLUTION
To edit the contents of a cell on your worksheet in order to use the INSERT
key, use the appropriate method below.
All Versions Microsoft Excel
Select the cell on your worksheet that you want to edit, and click in the
formula bar. You can now press INSERT to turn on overtype.
Microsoft Excel Version 5.0
In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, double-click the cell you want to edit.
This also activates the formula bar, and you can now press INSERT to turn
on overtype.
MORE INFORMATION
Note that after you finish editing a cell with overtype on, when you select
another cell, overtype is turned off and OVR no longer appears on the
status bar. To turn off overtype, you can also press ESC.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 8/15/2005 |
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| Keywords: | KB131627 |
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