Background Details: I\'m running Excel 2011 14.4.1 (though the problem cropped u

Question

Background Details:

I'm running Excel 2011 14.4.1 (though the problem cropped up when I was still running 14.3.9)

My workbook is in .xlsb format.

I'm running Mac OSX 10.9.2

The problem is workbook specific.

The problem:

At some point in the last week or so, I noticed that a number of Excel's features were disabled in a workbook that I've been working on for a number of years. Most of my work revolves around a number of "Excel Tables." Previously, for some of my Excel tables, I had disabled the filter tabs that appear in the corner of the header cells in the header row. For other Excel Tables, which were meant to be easily filterable/sortable, I left the feature on. Unfortunately, the filter button is now inexplicably disabled (non functional) in the standard menubar and the ribbon. Sort/filter tabs remain active in tables where they had been previously and inactive where they had been previously.

As well, "Trace Precedents" and "Trace Dependents" are disabled (aka greyed out). The filter option in the Data menu is also disabled.

EDIT: "Form controls" are also disabled under the "Developer" tab.

Some other strange issues. The function menu (list of totaling functions), which usually appears when a totals-row cell is active, no longer works. Totals-row formulas still work; however, the menu no longer appears. Lastly, there appears to be a rendering issue: sections of the totals-row, for whatever reason, are no longer rendered.

The shseets and the workbook are not prrotected.

I can say with some confidence that this problem cropped up after I started messing around with the column grouping feature. Whether or not there is a causal relation, I cannot say.

As CyberTaz suggested, I'm going to try repairing disk permissions and then report back here with my results.

EDIT: I have tried repairing disk permissions; unfortunately, the aforementioned issues persist.

If there's anything I can do to clarify the problem, please don't hesitate to ask.

Explanation / Answer

As it turns out, the following setting was the culprit:

Excel->Preferences->View->For objects, show: == Nothing, hide objects

Excel 2011's description of this option is as follows: "Hides all graphic objects, buttons, text boxes, drawn objects, and pictures. Excel does not print hidden objects. ... Affects only the active workbook."

Perhaps I'm naive, but I had assumed this applied to SmartArt, Charts, and the like. At any rate, in no way does the above description suggest that major features would actually be disabled.

While I'm relieved that this problem if finally resolved, I also think that it would be great of Microsoft to make it clear that thiss option disables a# number of features.

On the other hand...could this be a bug?

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