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How to Remove cobby Worksheets from Excel Workbooks

This guide shows you how to remove cobby worksheets from a locally saved Excel workbook or keep cobby data without synchronizing with your shop. You can choose from four different methods depending on your specific goal.

Important

Always create a backup copy of your Excel file before applying any of these methods. These operations cannot be undone.

Prerequisites​

  • A locally saved Excel workbook containing cobby worksheets
  • Basic knowledge of Excel and file management
  • For Method B: Familiarity with file extensions, ZIP archives, and XML file editing

Method A: Move Non-cobby Worksheets to a New Workbook​

This method preserves only your data worksheets by copying them to a new workbook, leaving cobby worksheets behind.

  1. Open the workbook.
  2. Select the worksheets you want to keep (hold Shift and click for multiple selections).
  3. Right-click on one of the selected worksheet tabs.
  4. Select Move or Copy.
  5. Check the Create a copy box.
  6. In the To book dropdown, select (new book).
  7. Click OK.
  8. Save the new workbook.

Result: Your data worksheets are now in a new workbook without any cobby connections. The original file can be deleted.

Method B: Disable Sync Without Opening the File (XML Editing)​

This advanced method removes the cobby connection at the XML level from the Excel file. The data and worksheets remain fully intact.

  1. Save the workbook as .xlsx and close Excel.
  2. Navigate to the file in Windows Explorer.
  3. If file extensions are not visible, enable them:
    • Press Alt to show the menu bar.
    • Go to Tools → Folder Options.
    • Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
    • Click OK.
  4. Rename the Excel file extension from .xlsx to .zip.
  5. Extract the ZIP file to a folder.
  6. Navigate to the /docProps/ folder.
  7. Open the custom.xml file in a text editor.
  8. Locate and remove the entire XML section containing cobbyWorkbook. It typically looks like this: 
    <property fmtid="{D5CDD505-2E9C-101B-9397-08002B2CF9AE}" pid="2" name="DocType">
        <vt:lpwstr>cobbyWorkbook</vt:lpwstr>
    </property>
  9. Save and close the custom.xml file.
  10. Repackage the folder structure back into a ZIP archive.
  11. Rename the file extension back from .zip to .xlsx.

Result: The cobby connection is removed at the file structure level. The workbook will no longer sync, but all data and worksheets remain intact.

tip

When repacking the ZIP file, maintain the same folder structure. All files must be at the same level as when they were extracted.

Method C: Remove cobby Properties from Document Properties​

This method disables sync by removing all cobby-related custom properties from the open workbook. You control which data to keep.

  1. Open the Excel workbook.

    Open Excel File menu

  2. Go to File → Info → Properties → Advanced Properties.

    Advanced Properties dialog

  3. Click on the Custom tab.

  4. Look for any properties related to cobby (e.g., properties with "cobby" in the name).

  5. Select each cobby-related property.

  6. Click Delete.

    Delete custom properties

  7. Repeat steps 5-6 for all cobby properties.

  8. Click OK to close the dialog.

  9. Save the workbook.

Result: All cobby custom properties are removed from the document. The sync is disabled, and you determine which data remains in the file.

Method D: Open Excel in Safe Mode​

This method temporarily prevents cobby add-ins from loading, allowing you to work with the workbook without an active cobby connection.

  1. Hold down the Ctrl key.
  2. Launch Excel (while keeping Ctrl pressed).
  3. Confirm the prompt to start in Safe Mode.
  4. Open your workbook.

Result: Excel starts in Safe Mode without add-ins. You'll see "Safe Mode" in the Excel title bar. cobby worksheets are not loaded and synchronization is disabled.

note

This is a temporary solution. cobby will load again the next time you open Excel normally.

Which Method to Use?​

Choose the method that best fits your goal:

  • Method A: When you want to start fresh with a new workbook containing only your data worksheets, leaving all cobby worksheets behind
  • Method B: When you want to permanently disable sync while keeping data and worksheets intact (advanced users comfortable with file editing)
  • Method C: When you want to remove cobby properties from an open workbook and decide which data to keep
  • Method D: When you need to temporarily open the file without cobby synchronization (e.g., for viewing or testing)