XL98: Default Toolbars and Toolbar Buttons Seen Instead of Customizations (192217)

For a Microsoft Excel 2002 version of this article, see 291074.
For a Microsoft Excel 97 and earlier version of this article, see 125183.

SYMPTOMS

If the Microsoft Excel toolbar file becomes damaged, or is deleted or moved from its original location, Microsoft Excel may exhibit the following behavior:

Toolbars and toolbar buttons created no longer appear.
Changes that you have made to toolbars and toolbar buttons no longer appear.
Custom lists that you have created or imported using the Custom Lists tab in the Preferences dialog box are missing.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the following items are stored in the Microsoft Excel toolbar file:

Toolbar customization and layout
Menubar customization and layout
Custom AutoFill lists
Tip history

If this file is missing or damaged, Microsoft Excel uses the default information for these items; default toolbars and toolbar buttons, default custom AutoFill lists, and default Tip history information.

When you close Microsoft Excel, if the toolbar file is not located in its installed location, the file is created with the default information, and any new toolbar customization, custom list, and Tip history information.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, the toolbar file is named Excel Toolbars (8), and is stored in the System Folder:Preferences folder.