Easter eggs
An easter egg, as it relates to software,
refers to a way of displaying a list of the software developers. Most major software
products include an easter egg, but viewing it almost always involves performing a series
of non-intuitive steps. This document shares the secret of viewing Excel's easter eggs.
Excel 2002 (Excel 10)
The word on the street is that Excel 2002 does not contain an easter egg. Apparently, Microsoft has received complaints about the waste of resources and file bloat.
Microsoft Web Components
Now this one is very cool! Technically, it's the easter egg for the Microsoft Web Components, but you access it from an Excel workbook saved as an interactive web page. Requires Excel 2000, the Microsoft Web components, and DirectX.
- Open a new Excel workbook.
- Select File * Save as Web Page
- In the Save As dialog, select 'Publish Sheet' and 'Add Interactivity'
- Save to an htm file on your hard drive (any file name).
- Open the htm file with Internet Explorer 5.
- Select cell WC2000 and scroll the sheet such that cell WC2000 is the first cell on the left. Highlight the entire row.
- Press Shift+Crtl+Alt and click the Office logo in the upper-left.
Your screen will be transformed into an auto racing game, with developer credits (and other things) visible on the roadway. Use the following keys:
- Arrow keys: to steer and accelerate
- Space bar: To fire at other cars
- O: To drop an oil slicks
- H: To turn on your headlights
Excel 2000 (Excel 9)
I can't get this to work, but others claim that it works for them:
- Open a new Excel workbook
- Press F5
- Type X2000:L2000 and press Enter
- You should now be on row 2000
- Press Tab once, to move to column M
- Hold Control and Shift, then right-click the Chart Wizard icon on the Standard toolbar. Some people have reported that it works only if you left-click the Chart Wizard icon.
- Watch the list of developers for Excel scroll by.
Excel 97 (Excel 8)
Excel's 97's easter egg is the most impressive that I've ever seen. Follow these steps:
- Open a new workbook
- Press F5
- Enter X97:L97 and press Enter
- Press Tab
- Press Ctrl+Shift and click the Chart Wizard button on the toolbar.
You'll be greeted with a full-screen animated image. Use the mouse to move around.
Trigger the egg. You'll be looking at a purple 3D landscape. Use the mouse to "fly" over the landscape (the mouse changes direction, left button moves forward and left button moves backwards). Fly around a bit and you'll see a grey stone pyramid. Fly to the side of the pyramid that's black and you'll see the credits scroll by.
NOTE: If this doesn't work, select the Tools Options command, then click the Transition tab. Remove the checkmark from Transition navigation keys and click OK. Then try it again.
Excel 95 (Excel 7)
Excel's 95's easter egg is quite impressive. To get to it, follow these steps:
- Open a new workbook
- Scroll down and select row 95
- Press Tab
- Choose the Help / About Microsoft Excel command
- Press Ctrl+Shift and click the Tech Support button
You'll be greeted with a new non-Excel window (fans of Doom will feel right at home). Explore the window using the arrow keys and a few other keys.
NOTE: If you haven't seen the photos, you haven't explored the entire window! Hint: type excelkfa.
Excel 5
To see the Excel 5 easter egg, follow these steps:
- Choose the View / Toolbars command
- Click the Customize button
- Scroll down the Categories list and choose the Custom category
- Drag the second button (with a deck of cards image) to any visible toolbar
- Click Cancel if you are asked for a macro
- Click Close to close the Customize dialog
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt, and then click the new toolbar button.
Don't give up too soon. It gets better. Press Escape when you've seen enough.