Open Excel in New Instance

S

Sean

I hate the way Excel opens spreadsheets you double-click
in Explorer in the same instance of Excel that is
currently running. I want to change it so that it always
opens a new instance of Excel. It's just to easy to lose
data because of this innane configuration.

If this is a FAQ then I'm sorry. I have spent a good deal
of time searching Microsoft's web sites and googling for
the answer with no luck. All I have found are other
people who have complained about this problem without
having any resolution.

Thanks,

Sean
 
J

John D

It's just to easy to lose
data because of this innane configuration.

Agreed. Had this happen several times myself. What I did
to get around it was go into "My Computer" and
select "Folder Options" from the "Tools" menu. Click
on "File Types" and select the "XLS" extension. Click
on "Advanced", then "Open" then "Edit". Uncheck the "Use
DDE" option and put %1 ad the end of the command line. Be
sure to put the %1 in quotes, otherwise excel will
misinterpret spaces in the path and filename.

Hope that helps.
 
P

Paul Falla

Dear Sean

With Excel open, go to the tools menu and select
<Options>. on the <View> tab look in the <show> area and
tick <Windows in taskbar>

That should do the trick.

Have a good weekend.

Paul Falla
 
G

Guest

Thanks Paul:

Unfortunately that doesn't work. It lists each Excel
spreadsheet in the taskbar but runs them all under one
instance. If you press "Alt-F4" or close the window with
the "X" at the far upper right it will close all open
sheets.

This isn't the behavior of Word or most other apps so it
is very easy to lose data if you do this and accidently
click the "No" when prompted about saving data thinking
that the prompt is for the sheet had focus on.

The trick John mentions does it. It launches each
spreadsheet you double click on from explorer or My
Computer in its own instance.

Thanks,

Sean
 
G

Gord Dibben

Strange behaviour....

I open 4 workbooks in one instance of Excel.

Make changes to each.

Hit ALT + F4 or the "X" to close and I am asked to individually confirm
changes made to each workbook.

I cannot "NO" them all at one go.

"Yes to all" to save changes in an option you could use.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
D

Dave Peterson

I'm guessing that the OP's workbooks weren't dirty (already saved or no
changes).

As an aside:
shiftclick on No and you can answer No all at once.
 
G

Gord Dibben

I'm guessing that the OP's workbooks weren't dirty (already saved or no
changes).

In that case there would be no loss of data or alterations, so should pose no
problem to OP
As an aside:
shiftclick on No and you can answer No all at once.

Cool trick.

Gord
 
D

Dave Peterson

It would be a problem to me if I wasn't ready to close the workbook.

But it wouldn't be a disaster--just an irritation.
 

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