XL98: "Cannot Shift Objects Off Sheet" Error Hiding Columns

When you try to hide columns of data in Microsoft Excel, you may receive the following error message:

This problem occurs if both of the following conditions are true:

• You insert a cell comment (click Comment on the Insert menu) in any cell in a column.
  
  -and-
• You try to hide the column to the left of the column that contains the cell comment, the column that contains the cell comment, and all the columns to the right of the column that contains the cell comment.

For example, this problem occurs if you place a cell comment in cell IR1, and then try to hide columns IQ:IV at the same time.

NOTE: Depending on the location of the column that contains the cell comment, you receive the error message if you try to hide the column that contains the cell comment and all the columns to the right of the column that contains the cell comment.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell that contains the comment, hold down the CONTROL key and click the cell, and then click Show Comment on the shortcut menu.
   
   This step is necessary because cell comments are hidden by default
2. Move the pointer to the edge of the comment until the pointer turns into a white arrow pointer with four small black arrows. Click the comment to select it.
3. On the Format menu, click Comment. In the Format Comment dialog box, click the Properties tab.
4. Click "Move and size with cells," and then click OK.
5. If you want to hide the cell comment again, hold down the CONTROL key and click the cell, and then click Hide Comment on the shortcut menu.

When you hide the columns, you do not receive the error message.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For more information about hiding columns, click Contents and Index on the Help menu, click the Index button in MS Excel Help, type the following text and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Hide all or part of a workbook" topic.