Excel: how to disable extend selection mode (F8 key) being activated by "-" key?

"I HAVE THE ANSWER!!

I have a Linux based thin client connecting to a windows server via RDP. I have the extend problem in excel when using the numpad.

I too have struggled with this problem for many months and I fixed it by attacking the source of the problem.

The num pad minus and the minus on the main keyboard are different keycodes.

Remap the keycode in the registry and the problem goes away!!

Here is the regfile that will map the numpad - (minus) to the keyboard - (minus)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
""Scancode Map""=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,0C,00,4A,00,00,00,00,0

0

You will need to reboot but it works straight away!!"

It sounds like Autocorrect, but I can't imagine how it works. Go to the Office Button - Excel Options - Proofing Options - Autocorrect Options and see if there's an entry for the minus sign. If so, delete it. If that works, be sure to let us know what it was converting a minus into.

"I believe I have the solution.
It has to do with the NumLock status when you log in and out. Try logging off with NumLock off, turn NumLock on, and then log in. If NumLock turns off, turn it on again and check to see if it is fixed now.

Worked for me."

"I remap the minus key on the numeric keypad with the following command placed in a startup script on Linux based systems RDPing to Windows:
/usr/bin/xmodmap -e 'keycode 82 = minus underscore'.

Environment:

Device: Raspberry Pi 2 rdesktop to Windows terminal server
OS: Raspbian
Locale: LANG=en_US.utf8
Language: en_US
Keyboard: pc105"