Opening files in new window

[Steve M]

When I open a 2nd or 3rd file in Excel. I get "Child Windows". Even the 1st
file appears to be a Child window. It didn't do this before. What did I
change? How can I get each file to open in its OWN complete Excel window? Do
I need to Uninstall and re-install?
Thanks

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

What do you mean by "child windows"? It's a new term to me.

Excel always opens a file in its own window. The only question is - is the
file in its own "instance" of Excel or the same one as the previous files.
If files are opened in the same instance, which is the default behavior, you
can choose the command Window, Arrange, Tile and you will be able to see both
files at the same time. This is generally the correct way to work with
Excel. The other way you open multiple copies of Excel and open files into
those different instances. This is, generally, a waste of resources. To do
this you would open different copies of Excel from the Start menu for
example.

 

[Dave Peterson]

In xl2003 menus, I can see lots of sheet windows by using:
Window|arrange

If I wanted to maximize any one of these windows within the excel application, I
can doubleclick on an empty spot in its title bar or use the Maximize button on
the right side of the sheet window's title bar.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Maybe you want "Windows in Taskbar" enabled?

See Tools>Options>View for 2003

Office Button>Excel Options>Advanced>Display "Show all windows in the
Taskbar" for 2007


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP