Start Up Switch

I am having a problem with the way Excel opens. I would
like it to open without the splash screen and blank
document. The help says to add a switch /e to the end of
the target path in the shortcut. but when I do this, I
receive a message that says something like "not a valid
pathname". I am not able to add any switches to the path.
The system won't recognise it. I have tried it with a
space after "excel.exe" and without the space and nothing
I try works. Does anyone have a solution? I am having the
same problem with Word.

John