Opening multiple XLS files

M

Mike

From windows explorer, when I open an XLS file, it opens a new instance of
Excel. I'd like ot have it so all the XLS files I open are in the same
instance of Excel. This used to work this way but I just got a new laptop
and an upgrade to Office 2003. How do I change Excel to get this behavior?

Thanks!
 
D

Dave Peterson

Sometimes one of these works when you're having trouble with double clicking on
the file in windows explorer:

Tools|Options|General|Ignore other applications (uncheck it)

--- or ---

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets some of the windows registry to
excel's factory defaults.
 
M

Mike

Had that alredy. I think in the folder options there is a /e that causes a
new instance of excel to open, I remove that and they all opn in the same
window. However now when I open a file, it tells me it is already open. :-(
It shouldn't be this hard to do basic funstions that once worked.
 
G

Gord Dibben

The /e just tells Excel not to open the default Book1 or show the splash
screen.

Does not open a new instance of Excel.

Try Dave's suggestions again.

Should do the job.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
P

Paul Caldarone

I can't open xls file using my documents. massage states: can't find file,
check info and try again. File will open if I open Excel first and then it
will open my file.
 
G

Gord Dibben

Try the usual fix for this.

Tools>Options>General Uncheck "Ignore Other Applications"

If no joy with that................

Close Excel first and On the Windows Taskbar

1) Start>Run "excel.exe /unregserver"(no quotes)>OK.
2) Start>Run "excel.exe /regserver"(no quotes)>OK.

See the space between exe and /regserver

You might have to designate a full path to excel.exe.

In that case Start>Run "C:\yourpath\excel.exe" /regserver(quotes required)>OK.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 

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