Starting multiple instances of Excel

[Jay]

Opening Excel files from Windows Explorer by clicking them in the list has
the effect of starting one instance of Excel and loading the workbooks
successively into the one instance. Sometimes it is useful to have two or
more instances of Excel with the workbooks viewable simultaneously. Although
I know there are other ways of doing this, for example by starting multiple
Excels then opening the files from Excel, it would be useful if I could
press another key at the same time as mouse-clicking in Explorer so that
opening each workbook starts a new instance of Excel. Can anybody tell me if
this is possible?

Thanks!

Jacques

 

[Dave Peterson]

If you're using xl2k+, you may want to get the same kind of effect by using:
tools|options|view tab|check windows in taskbar.

If you really want separate instances, you could try this:

Tools|options|General tab|Ignore other applications (check it)

And be aware that turning this setting off sometimes gives errors with workbooks
that contain spaces in their path/name:

C:\my documents\excel\my book.xls

The error will look kind of like:
cannot find c:\my ..
then
cannot find documents\excel\my
then
cannot find book.xls

 

[Jay]

Thanks for the suggestions, Dave, but good though they were, neither of them
really does the business for me. Guess I'll have to stick to starting Excel
then opening the files.

Jay