Error opening an excel file with the same name as an existing file

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costa b

Is there a microsoft known problem in relation to opening
2 files with the same name in excel?

Can this be fixed with a patch or a setting?

The error message is as follows:

A document with the name <filename-here> is already open.
You cannot open two documents with the same name, even if
the documents are in different folders.
To open the second document, either close the document
that's currently open, or rename one of the documents.

I am using Windows XP SP1 and Excel 2002 SP1.
 
costa said:
Is there a microsoft known problem in relation to opening
2 files with the same name in excel?

Can this be fixed with a patch or a setting?

I am using Windows XP SP1 and Excel 2002 SP1.
Click to expand...


You can open 2 files with the same name if you use 2 Excel windows.

I'm aware of two different ways to do this.

#1. From the Windows "Start" menu, use the cascaded menu to open Excel.
Once Excel is running, use "File >> Open" to open an Excel file. Repeat the
steps for the second file.

#2. Point to an Excel file on the desktop or in a folder. With the right
mouse button, click "Send To >> Excel". Repeat the steps for the second
file.

For #2, you might not see "Excel" in the "Send To" menu at first. To add it
there, put a shortcut to the Excel program into the folder
C:\Windows\SendTo\

(I use Excel 97.)
 
Depending on what you're doing, maybe you could start two instances of excel.

Try toggling
Tools|Options|General|Ignore other applications (check it)

Then start that second instance of excel.

But as for me, I'd be flirting with danger. I'd rather rename one of the
workbooks, than take a chance that I'd be updating the wrong one.
 
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