I'm using OS 10.2.6 and Office X--all the way to the
Office 10.3 update.

I see the little trianglein the lower right corner of the
toolbar for resizing, but when I click to drag it out, it
won't resize. I've checked the MS Knowledgebase,
but they only indicate it's a problem for Windows XP
and one other Windows OS. I have this 17-inch
screen, and a toolbar that will only go to about 6
inches. Very annoying. I suppose I could live with it,
but I'd rather not. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Hmmm

Try dragging the corner of the Toolbar at a straight
45° diagnol path from your upper right to the
lower left of your screen.

It should jump down in big increments (as
opposed to a smooth resizing) to a rectangular
panel where the tools are double stacked.

Tell us if this works.

cheers

cw

Nope--not moving at all. Like it's greyed out or
something.

ok... but is the Toolbar "greyed out"? eg: can you
use it's tools?

(you could always try change your screen
resolution - Go up to top left Blue Apple >> scroll
down to "System Preferences". In the System
Preferences panel, under the heading "Hardware"
- click once on "Displays" and switch it from
whatever Resolution is currently highlighted to a
higher Resolution - eg: 1024 x 768 or 1056 x 792.

See if your particular eye-site can cope with these
changes).

Tell me how you go.

cheers

cw

No, the toolbar is not greyed out, just the resize
arrow. I am able to click the "more" arrow above the
resize arrow and get more tools listed, but I'd like to
see them all at once. I certainly have enough real
estate.

I'm already at 1152 X 864 resolution.

Just so's you know, I'm pretty technogeeky. I've
worked on PCs and Macs. Took the IT Technical
Assistant Trainee position for the county and tested
in the first group (meaning my score was between 96
to 100%. I had to demonstrate knowledge (granted,
on a PC) of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook.

I've checked the all the preference tabs of Word, but
I've even had this problem in Excel--pretty much the
two Office X programs I play in. I can't see anything
that remotely relates to it.

Checked the customize tools selection of Toolbars.

Checked the "Help" feature of Word and Excel.

Checked the MS knowledgebase--it mentions a
toolbar lock situation only for Office in two Windows
OSs.

Did a Google web search on the problem using the
keywords of "Can't resize toolbar," "Office X," "OS X,"
"resize toolbar," "toolbar," and every permutation
thereof.

Checked a couple of Mac sites, and here I am, trying
to work this out.

Office X is updated as much as it can be.

I've run a diagnostic on my computer--it solved
nothing.

Updated my virus definitions and ran a scan. I'm
clean.

My toolbar is also doing other funky things, like
greying out insert column and insert row buttons I've
put onto the toolbar, so I have to use the menu
instead. I hate that.

I really do hate Word, and would prefer to use Quark
or InDesign, but I don't have those anymore for my
computer. I'm saving up for InDesign. But I generally
love Excel, except for these problems. I used to do
graphic design (back in the days of hot wax, Excacto
knives, and Mayline parallel bars--I was GOOOD) and
then work in Quark before I got OS X, and it's too
annoying to work in Classic.

Sigh. Where do we go from here, or are you as
stumped as I am? I just let you know the above so
maybe we could move beyond the basics of screen
resolution and "Is your toolbar greyed out?"--don't
mean that in a hostile way at all. Just thought we
could save ourselves some time.

Theresa

OK Theresa - have you tried applying the
"OfficeXSR1Updater"?

If not, go to this URL:

http://ftp.gentoo.skynet.be/pub/ftp.microsoft.com/
officex/

It's the second item from the bottom of the list
marked "OfficeXSR1UpdaterEN.bin"

If this solution also fails, going via the KISS rule,
Deinstall MS Office X completely and reinstall it
from scratch - including the updates. Make certain
all viral software is "off" before reinstalling.

Tell me how you go.

Cheers

cw

See if there's a prefs file for Office that you can pitch out.

p

Since I've updated Office X as much as I can (all
patches available have been downloaded and
installed), I'll probably try the reinstall--after I throw
out the prefs file (ah yes, the prefs file!), which is
something I was starting to contemplate as I was
beating my head on the keyboard. ;-) I figured, what
thuh heck? Couldn't hurt, might help.

Theresa

SIGH!!!!!!!

I've thrown out the preferences. No go.

I've thrown out all of my Microsoft Office files (even going through the "find" feature to make sure I got it all) and
reinstalled, including Office X update 1.2, which
includes the latest service pack (you can't just
download the SP). The Office X update 10.3 just fixes a couple of French and Italian things, so I don't need it.

I still can't resize my toolbars, except in Excel, where
I can only resize the bar that has the formula window in
it. DANG IT!!!!!!!!!!! If I'm not meant to resize my
toolbar, why is there a (greyed-out) resize arrow
there in the lower right-hand corner in the first
place?????????? As per usual with any MS product,
dang, this product is buggy!

Any thoughts? Thanks for your patience.

Theresa

Theresa,

Yes - it's frustrating - so let's keep a cool head -
ok? There's a solution to this and it's a simple one.

I've followed your footsteps and I can't emulate
your toolbar problem. So I need to start asking
questions again.

OK....

what is your exact Mac model - and in particular -
what is the full detail on your display unit?

hear from you soon

cw

Theresa,

Also - click on my name and mail me a screen
dump - so I can see exactly what you're seeing.

Just in case and in no way attempting to insult
your intelligence:

Apple Comand key + Shift key + 3# key = screen
dump.

cheers Theresa

cw

Theresa,

Another thought. Are your Toolbars docked? (that
is - a toolbar that is attached to one edge of the
screen. You can dock a toolbar below the
program title bar or to the left, right, or lower edge
of the screen. When you drag a toolbar to the
edge of the screen, the toolbar outline snaps into
place along its length).

In "docked mode" - a toolbar cannot be resized.

If it is pulled back into a "floating toolbar" - then it
can be resized.

However - if all this turns out to be another dead-
end - please proceed with answering Response
Numbers 9 and 10.

cheers

cw