How to Fix Excel VBA IDE Window Size Control Issue

Key Takeaways

• The issue is caused by a corrupted or damaged registry setting that affects the VBA editor windows.
• The solution is to delete the DockingView key from the registry and let Excel recreate it with the default settings.

Learn how to fix the Excel VBA IDE window size control issue that causes the Project Explorer and Code windows to go full screen and offer no way to reduce their width.

Problem

If you are using Excel VBA to create macros or automate tasks, you may encounter an issue where the Project Explorer and Code windows in the VBA IDE interface go to full screen and offer no way to reduce their width. This can be very annoying and frustrating, as it limits your ability to view and edit your code. In this article, we will show you how to fix this issue and restore the normal operation of the Excel VBA IDE window size control.

What Causes the Excel VBA IDE Window Size Control Issue?

The Excel VBA IDE window size control issue is caused by a corrupted or damaged registry setting that affects the VBA editor. The registry is a database that stores information and settings for the Windows operating system and the applications installed on your computer. Sometimes, the registry can get corrupted or damaged due to various reasons, such as malware infection, power outage, improper shutdown, software installation or uninstallation, etc. When this happens, some of the registry settings may become invalid or missing, causing errors and problems for the applications that rely on them.

One of the registry settings that affects the Excel VBA IDE window size control is the DockingView key, which is located under the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VBA\7.1\Common

The DockingView key contains several subkeys that store the position and size of the VBA editor windows, such as the Project Explorer, the Code window, the Immediate window, etc. If the DockingView key or any of its subkeys are corrupted or damaged, the VBA editor windows may not behave normally and may go to full screen and offer no way to reduce their width.

How to Fix the Excel VBA IDE Window Size Control Issue?

The easiest and safest way to fix the Excel VBA IDE window size control issue is to delete the DockingView key from the registry and let Excel recreate it with the default settings. To do this, you need to follow these steps:

1. Close Excel and any other applications that use VBA.
2. Open the Windows Start menu and type regedit in the search box. Press Enter or click on the regedit icon to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VBA\7.1\Common
4. Right-click on the DockingView key and select Delete. Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
6. Open Excel and the VBA editor. You should see that the Project Explorer and Code windows are back to their normal size and position, and you can adjust their width as you wish.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is the VBA IDE interface?

Answer: The VBA IDE interface is the Visual Basic for Applications Integrated Development Environment, which is the tool that allows you to create, edit, debug, and run VBA macros and code in Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.

Question: How do I open the VBA IDE interface in Excel?

Answer: You can open the VBA IDE interface in Excel by pressing Alt + F11 on your keyboard, or by clicking on the Developer tab and then clicking on the Visual Basic button.

Question: How do I resize the VBA editor windows in the VBA IDE interface?

Answer: You can resize the VBA editor windows in the VBA IDE interface by dragging the edges or corners of the windows with your mouse, or by using the Window menu and selecting the options such as Tile Horizontally, Tile Vertically, Cascade, Arrange Icons, etc.

Summary

In this article, we have learned how to fix the Excel VBA IDE window size control issue that causes the Project Explorer and Code windows to go full screen and offer no way to reduce their width. We have explained the cause of the issue, which is a corrupted or damaged registry setting, and the solution, which is to delete the DockingView key from the registry and let Excel recreate it with the default settings. We hope this article has helped you to solve this issue and improve your Excel VBA experience.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not responsible for any damage or loss that may result from following the instructions in this article. Always backup your data and registry before making any changes to your system.