How to run Excel 2002 and 2003 on same computer with different Associations

[Krash]

I recently installed Excel 2003 on a computer that has 2002. I wish
to run both versions; for testing purposes. However, any xls will be
opened with 2003. Now normally you can ReAssociate the files to the
correct version (like I had done with Access 2002 & 2003). With
Access I'd have 2 file types to choose from, but with Excel it only
has one which is linked to 2003.

I decided to throw out my intelligence and play with File Type
extensions. So after about 30 minutes and totally breaking the links
with excel, I system restored the computer (and my sanity) back to
original state before installation. All is good now, but I would
still like to:

Have both versions of excel
Be able to choose the versions so if a user double clicks an existing
excel file it opens 2002 (not 2003)

Suggestions?

thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

Put two shortcuts in the Sendto folder calling one excel2002 and the other
excel2003. Then when you open the file right click the mouse and select the
version you want to use.

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'm not sure how choosing the version fits in with have xl2002 open the file,
but maybe....

I think windows will use the last version of excel that was installed as the
default program associated with the extension.

But you can reregister excel so that an earlier version will be the default.

Close excel
windows start button|Run
"C:\yourpathtoexcel2002\excel.exe" /regserver

And then test it.

 

[Krash]

I'm currently testing this on a server that should be using 2002 as
the default. So the current users would come back to open there files
and it would use 2003 to open those files. I didn't want version
problems if they were saving with 2003 and then I restored back to
2002.

Anyway, thanks again Dave. I'll give that a shot the the next time re-
install and test it out and I'll post here to give an update.

 

[Dave Peterson]

I don't quite understand what you mean you're testing on a server.

This is user setting. You'll need to do this on each pc for anyone who needs
it.

 

[Krash]

My bad, I meant testing on a single PC. Just a stand-alone PC that is
used sometimes, but when it's used, they should be using only 2002
(not 2003). Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Dave Peterson]

Did it work?

My bad, I meant testing on a single PC. Just a stand-alone PC that is
used sometimes, but when it's used, they should be using only 2002
(not 2003). Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Peter T]

I would strongly suggest install newest version last and keep the default
open in newest version. In the registry 'CurVer' exists in a number of
places which overrides the file association for 'Open'. I wouldn't mess with
it.

When you need to open in the older version, keep only that version already
open and double click from file. It should open in the running instance,
whatever the version (subject IgnoreRemoteRequests).

If you need both versions open, drag the file into required version, or File
/ Open.

Regards,
Peter T