XL: Hidden Cells in a Worksheet May Become Unhidden

In Microsoft Excel, hidden cells in a worksheet may become unhidden if all of the following conditions are true:

• There is at least one hidden row or column in the worksheet.
  
  -and-
• The Transition navigation keys check box is selected.
  
  -and-
• You are creating a formula on another worksheet or workbook using Point mode, and you select a cell on the worksheet.

To keep cells from becoming unhidden, do the following to turn the Transition navigation keys option off:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Transition tab.
2. Under Settings, click to clear the Transition navigation keys check box.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem does not occur in versions of Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.

Point mode is a data entry mode that lets you create a formula by selecting cells with the mouse or keyboard. The status bar will display the word "Point" in the lower-left corner when you are in this mode. For example, in Point mode, if you activate a cell and press = (the equal sign), you can select another cell by pressing the arrow keys on the keyboard or selecting a cell with your mouse.