# Something changed in Excel **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430 "2019-08-09T21:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/1 "2019-08-09T21:34:26Z")
All day today, I’ve had an issue with Excel. I do a Find All. For example, I’ll look for LNY. Then I want to look for LNT and LNL. Before today, I do the first find and nothing is found. I would then hit the backspace to change the last character, and hit Enter. Again, as expected, there would be no LNTs found. Repeat for LNL. Today, the cursor does not return to the Find box. When I hit backspace, I clear the cell. Did I inadvertently change something? Or has there been some sort of update to make it easier for people to inadvertently delete data? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/2 "2019-08-10T01:59:44Z")
In Excel there is a “typing replaces selected text” option. You may have somehow enabled it. I’d guide you to where that option is but you didn’t say what version of Excel you’re using. Either way, I’d check that first. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/3 "2019-08-12T14:45:49Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > In Excel there is a “typing replaces selected text” option. You may have somehow enabled it. I’d guide you to where that option is but you didn’t say what version of Excel you’re using. Either way, I’d check that first. Where would I find that? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/4 "2019-08-12T15:39:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Where would I find that? :smack: There are at least a dozen versions of Excel you might be using and it’s different in each one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/5 "2019-08-12T15:44:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > :smack: > > There are at least a dozen versions of Excel you might be using and it’s different in each one. :smack: You said that! Unfortunately, Excel doesn’t have an ‘About’ option. I’m using MS Edge, which was installed on the new computer they replaced my old one with. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/6 "2019-08-12T16:38:32Z")
In that case, maybe this will work, it should cover versions 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. > **[Replacing Text Selections](https://wordribbon.tips.net/T008959_Replacing_Text_Selections.html)** > > When editing a document, Word normally replaces whatever text you select with whatever you start to type. Here's how to turn off that capability, if you find it annoying. Hopefully that works in whatever version you have. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/7 "2019-08-12T17:06:33Z")
I don’t think Excel works the same way Word does in this case. In Excel, the overtype/insert option is toggled by the Insert key on the keyboard, and used to be indicated by OVR in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. The version I’m using does not seem to have this indicator any more, and you just have to go by what happens when you type. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/8 "2019-08-12T17:07:07Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > :smack: You said that! > > Unfortunately, Excel doesn’t have an ‘About’ option. I’m using MS Edge, which was installed on the new computer they replaced my old one with. Mine I open a workbook and click File\>Account\>About Excel. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/9 "2019-08-12T17:09:06Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I don’t think Excel works the same way Word does in this case. > > In Excel, the overtype/insert option is toggled by the Insert key on the keyboard, and used to be indicated by OVR in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. The version I’m using does not seem to have this indicator any more, and you just have to go by what happens when you type. Yes, hitting the Insert key to see if it toggles off that option is another good thing to try. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/10 "2019-08-12T17:10:46Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Yes, hitting the Insert key to see if it toggles off that option is another good thing to try. Unfortunately, I’m telecommuting and working on my Mac. The keys don’t work the same way from here. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/11 "2019-08-12T17:12:17Z")
Try these suggestions: > **[Insert Key on MacBook Keyboard](https://www.passfab.com/mac/insert-key-on-macbook-keyboard.html)** > > There exists no insert key on Mac keyboard, but we can create the same effect of it using other keyboard shortcuts. Here we will see a detailed discussion on insert key on Mac keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/12 "2019-08-12T17:14:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Unfortunately, I’m telecommuting and working on my Mac. The keys don’t work the same way from here. Ah, it’s a Mac. That’s critical info for your issue. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/13 "2019-08-12T17:19:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > In that case, maybe this will work, it should cover versions 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. > > [Replacing Text Selections (Microsoft Word)](https://wordribbon.tips.net/T008959_Replacing_Text_Selections.html) > > Hopefully that works in whatever version you have. That’s for Word. I opened Excel and chose Advanced, and I didn’t see anything that applied. > [@Atamasama](#): > > Ah, it’s a Mac. That’s critical info for your issue. 🙂 Excel is running on the PC in my office.\ ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-changed-in-excel/838430/14 "2019-08-12T17:38:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That’s for Word. I opened Excel and chose Advanced, and I didn’t see anything that applied. Crap, you’re right. I missed that, sorry.