issue with Ignore Other Applications option

[Mad Scientist Jr]

I want to view my Excel workbooks in separate windows (I have 2
monitors and want different workbooks displayed in each). Looking
around online it seems the setting to allow this is:

Tools > Options > General > Ignore other applications

I selected this, and it works. When I click on an Excel file in
Explorer, a new instance of Excel opens.

However, when Excel opens, there is no workbook. I have to go to File >
Open and manually navigate to the file to edit it.

Is this a known side effect or some anomaly? Is there anyway to fix
this while still being able to open workbooks in separate windows?

Much appreciated...

 

[Mad Scientist Jr]

I am using Excel 2003 (SP2) and wanted to view my Excel workbooks in
separate windows (I have 2 monitors and want different workbooks
displayed in each). Looking around online it seems the setting to allow
this is:

Tools > Options > General > Ignore other applications

I selected this, and it works. When I click on an Excel file in
Explorer, a new instance of Excel opens.

However, when Excel opens, there is no workbook. I had to click File >
Open and manually navigate to the file to edit it.

My first question was is this a known side effect or some anomaly? Is
there any way to fix this while still being able to open workbooks in
separate windows?

I tried to go in and edit the XLS file association (in Explorer, Tools

Folder Options > File Types), goto XLS, clicked [Advanced] > Open > Edit. I didn't change anything, just exited, but after that dbl-clicking on an XLS file gives the error:

Windows cannot find
'C:\Documents and Settings\myuser\myfolder\sub path\myfile.xls'.
Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

I went back in to edit the XLS file association again and played
around, to no avail. Went back to re-edit the association and where
before there was an [Advanced] button, there was a [Restore] button,
which I clicked. Now it seems whenever I dbl click on an Excel file,
Excel (or Windows) is delimiting the file path by space, and trying to
open each word in the path as a separate Excel file.

For instance if I double click the file
C:\Documents and Settings\myuser\myfolder\sub path\myfile.xls
in Explorer, Excel opens and pops up these 5 or so error windows:

'C:\Documents.xls' could not be found.

'and.xls' could not be found.

'Settings\myuser\My.xls' could not be found.

'Documents\myfolder\sub.xls' could not be found.

'path\myfile.xls' could not be found.

It seems Excel is splitting the file path up by space, and thinks every
word in the file path is a separate Excel file name.

I'm not sure now if this is an Excel issue, a Windows issue, neither,
or both.

What can I do to fix this?

Much appreciated...

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think that these are common problems when you toggle that "ignore other
applications" setting. I don't know any way around it except to just open the
second instance and then use File|Open to open your workbook.

But Chip Pearson said that he uses one instance of excel with multiple windows.

He posted that he makes excel a window (not maximized and not minimized). Then
he drags the excel application across two monitors (an extremely wide window).

Then just opens both files in that instance of excel and arranges the windows so
that each has its own worksheet window. (Window|arrange|vertical???)

Maybe it'll work for you.

I am using Excel 2003 (SP2) and wanted to view my Excel workbooks in
separate windows (I have 2 monitors and want different workbooks
displayed in each). Looking around online it seems the setting to allow
this is:

Tools > Options > General > Ignore other applications

I selected this, and it works. When I click on an Excel file in
Explorer, a new instance of Excel opens.

However, when Excel opens, there is no workbook. I had to click File >
Open and manually navigate to the file to edit it.

My first question was is this a known side effect or some anomaly? Is
there any way to fix this while still being able to open workbooks in
separate windows?

I tried to go in and edit the XLS file association (in Explorer, Tools

Folder Options > File Types), goto XLS, clicked [Advanced] > Open > Edit. I didn't change anything, just exited, but after that dbl-clicking on an XLS file gives the error:

Windows cannot find
'C:\Documents and Settings\myuser\myfolder\sub path\myfile.xls'.
Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

I went back in to edit the XLS file association again and played
around, to no avail. Went back to re-edit the association and where
before there was an [Advanced] button, there was a [Restore] button,
which I clicked. Now it seems whenever I dbl click on an Excel file,
Excel (or Windows) is delimiting the file path by space, and trying to
open each word in the path as a separate Excel file.

For instance if I double click the file
C:\Documents and Settings\myuser\myfolder\sub path\myfile.xls
in Explorer, Excel opens and pops up these 5 or so error windows:

'C:\Documents.xls' could not be found.

'and.xls' could not be found.

'Settings\myuser\My.xls' could not be found.

'Documents\myfolder\sub.xls' could not be found.

'path\myfile.xls' could not be found.

It seems Excel is splitting the file path up by space, and thinks every
word in the file path is a separate Excel file name.

I'm not sure now if this is an Excel issue, a Windows issue, neither,
or both.

What can I do to fix this?

Much appreciated...

 

[Mad Scientist Jr]

I did a little more searching on usenet and found an answer that works:



From: Randy - view profile
Date: Tues, Jun 14 2005 4:55 pm
Email: "Randy" <[email protected]>
Groups: microsoft.public.excel.misc

Hi Dave I figured it out,

Open window explorer by right clicking the Start button and select
Explore.
Windows Explorer opens, now select "Tools" then on the dropdown menu
select
"Folder Options". In Folder Options , select the "File Types" tab.
Now scroll down until you see the file type of "XLS" under the column
labled
"Extensions" Click on "XLS" to select it.
Next click on the Advanced button and then under "Actions" Click on
"Open"
The Confirm open after download should be checked and the other two....

1. Always show extension
2. Browse same window


Should not be checked.


Next click "Edit"


Under Application used to perform action delete what is there (All of
it)
and copy and paste the following into this space.


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\EXCEL.EXE" "%1"


Make sure the box "DDE Message" is clear and the Check Box labled "Use
DDE"
is checked.
You are done, click OK, Ok and Close. Now when you click on XLS files
each
will open in it own window. (Hopefully)


--
Randy

I think that these are common problems when you toggle that "ignore other
applications" setting. I don't know any way around it except to just open the
second instance and then use File|Open to open your workbook.

But Chip Pearson said that he uses one instance of excel with multiple windows.

He posted that he makes excel a window (not maximized and not minimized). Then
he drags the excel application across two monitors (an extremely wide window).

Then just opens both files in that instance of excel and arranges the windows so
that each has its own worksheet window. (Window|arrange|vertical???)

Maybe it'll work for you.

I am using Excel 2003 (SP2) and wanted to view my Excel workbooks in
separate windows (I have 2 monitors and want different workbooks
displayed in each). Looking around online it seems the setting to allow
this is:

Tools > Options > General > Ignore other applications

I selected this, and it works. When I click on an Excel file in
Explorer, a new instance of Excel opens.

However, when Excel opens, there is no workbook. I had to click File >
Open and manually navigate to the file to edit it.

My first question was is this a known side effect or some anomaly? Is
there any way to fix this while still being able to open workbooks in
separate windows?

I tried to go in and edit the XLS file association (in Explorer, Tools

Folder Options > File Types), goto XLS, clicked [Advanced] > Open > Edit. I didn't change anything, just exited, but after that dbl-clicking on an XLS file gives the error:

Windows cannot find
'C:\Documents and Settings\myuser\myfolder\sub path\myfile.xls'.
Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

I went back in to edit the XLS file association again and played
around, to no avail. Went back to re-edit the association and where
before there was an [Advanced] button, there was a [Restore] button,
which I clicked. Now it seems whenever I dbl click on an Excel file,
Excel (or Windows) is delimiting the file path by space, and trying to
open each word in the path as a separate Excel file.

For instance if I double click the file
C:\Documents and Settings\myuser\myfolder\sub path\myfile.xls
in Explorer, Excel opens and pops up these 5 or so error windows:

'C:\Documents.xls' could not be found.

'and.xls' could not be found.

'Settings\myuser\My.xls' could not be found.

'Documents\myfolder\sub.xls' could not be found.

'path\myfile.xls' could not be found.

It seems Excel is splitting the file path up by space, and thinks every
word in the file path is a separate Excel file name.

I'm not sure now if this is an Excel issue, a Windows issue, neither,
or both.

What can I do to fix this?

Much appreciated...