No Workbook at Startup

[Paul Martin]

When I start up Excel (2003), no workbook is opening. I have
identified that this has something to do with a hidden workbook that I
have created and placed in Excel's XLSTART folder. This file,
XXStartup.xls is hidden and acts like PERSONAL.XLS. It is used to
deploy custom toolbars to users without overwriting their own
PERSONAL.XLS.

I have placed XXStartup.xls in:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\XLSTART

I prefer this location as it means the macros execute seamlessly
without having to redirect the macro paths if I used:

C:\Documents and Settings\{userID}\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel
\XLSTART

The Excel11.xlb file is placed in the user's profile path (in the
Excel folder, one up from XLSTART in the path above).

Regardless of which XLSTART folder I put XXStartup.xls in (and I have
tried both), no workbook opens automatically on startup. As soon as I
remove the file from XLSTART, Excel's behaviour returns to normal. I
have read other posts suggesting removing the " /e" switch from the
command line for Excel, but this has had no effect.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Paul Martin
Melbourne, Australia

 

[Harald Staff]

Hu Paul

Try saving the file as an addin (xla) ;
XXStartup.xla

Best wishes Harald

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'd save that xxStartup.xls as an addin and the problem would go away. You may
want to test it before you distribute it to others.

But that worked ok for me when I had:
Personal.xla
xx.xla
book.xlt
sheet.xlt

in my XLStart folder. (I use xl2003, too.)

But if that's too much trouble, you may want to add a line that creates a new
workbook if there isn't one active--at the end of auto_open/workbook_Open:

if activeworkbook is nothing then
workbooks.add
end if

 

[Paul Martin]

Thanks for the replies, David and Harald. I prefer not to save as an
Add-In as that's an extra step for users to install and uninstall it.
I prefer it to just be there, like PERSONAL.XLS.

The Workbook_Open code sounds like a good quick fix, if there's
nothing else.

Regards

Paul

 

[Dave Peterson]

I don't think you'll see a difference in the amount of work when saving as an
addin.

Just tell them to put it in the same place as you were telling them to put the
..xls file.

You will have to remind them to delete the equivalent .xls file the first time
you send the .xla file, though.

Addins in the XLStart folder will be loaded when excel starts. You won't need
to teach them Tools|Addins...