XL: Workbook May Not Be Closed When You Click Close Button

• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel that are listed at the beginning of this article, if you click the Close button (the box with an "X") in a workbook, nothing happens; you are not prompted to save the workbook, and the workbook is not closed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you are editing a cell (you are in edit mode) and you click the Close button.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, click Close on the File menu.

Or, exit edit mode by pressing ESCAPE. When you click the Close button, Microsoft Excel closes workbook.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel for Windows, the Close button is the "X" button located in the upper-right corner of the workbook window. Note that this button is different from the "X" button that is located in the upper-right corner of the program window.

In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, the Close button is the square button located in the upper-left corner of the workbook window.

Normally, when you click the Close button, Microsoft Excel behaves as though you clicked Close on the File menu. If the workbook has been changed, you are prompted to save changes to the file. Then, the workbook is closed.