OFF97: Using the Undo Feature with Inserted Objects

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

When you insert an object from one program (for example, a Microsoft Excel 97 worksheet object) into another program (for example, Microsoft PowerPoint 97), and you deactivate and reactivate the inserted object, the Undo command behaves differently in each program. This article explains the differences in behavior among the Office programs.

MORE INFORMATION

Each Microsoft Office 97 program includes an Undo command. This command allows you to undo certain actions after you perform them; for example, if you type a value in a worksheet cell, you can undo the action. To use the Undo command, do either of the following:

• Click Undo on the Edit menu.

  -or-

• Click the Undo tool on the Standard toolbar.

However, when you insert an object into another program, the behavior of the undo stack varies for each program included in Microsoft Office 97.

Microsoft Word 97 Document Objects

When you insert a Microsoft Word 97 document object into another program, make changes to the object, deactivate the object, and then reactivate the object, the undo stack is not cleared. As a result, you can still undo changes that you previously made to the document object.

Microsoft Excel 97 Worksheet Objects and Chart Objects

When you insert a Microsoft Excel 97 worksheet object or chart object into another program, make changes to the object, deactivate the object, and then reactivate the object, the undo stack is cleared. You cannot undo changes that you previously made to the worksheet object or chart object.

Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Presentation Objects

When you insert a Microsoft PowerPoint 97 presentation object into another program, make changes to the object, deactivate the object, and then reactivate the object, the undo stack is cleared. You cannot undo changes that you previously made to the presentation object.

Microsoft Access 97 Database Objects

You cannot insert a Microsoft Access 97 database object into another program.

Example

To see an example of the behavior of the undo stack, follow these steps:

1. In Microsoft Word 97, create a new document.

2. On the Insert menu, click Object. In the Object Type list, click Microsoft Excel Worksheet and click OK.

3. In the Microsoft Excel worksheet object, type random values in some of the cells.

4. Click the Undo arrow on the Standard toolbar.

   Note that the list contains several items, such as Typing. When you are done, click a cell in the worksheet object.

5. Deactivate the worksheet object by clicking in the Microsoft Word document.

6. Reactivate the worksheet object by double-clicking it.

7. Click the Undo arrow on the Standard toolbar.

If you perform these same steps when you use a Microsoft PowerPoint 97 presentation object, the behavior is the same. If you insert a Microsoft Word 97 document object into another program, the Undo list contains all of the same items after you reactivate the document object.