Suppress Excel Safe Mode dialogue

[Guest]

We have a web based (asp) application that uses the Excel object to generate
reports. The code triggered is in an Add-In for Excel (xla).

The application runs fine for several weeks, than suddenly hangs. After
looking at the web server console the cause is that Excel displayes a
dialogue:

"Excel failed to start correctly last time. Starting Excel in safe mode will
help you correct or isolate a startup problem in order to successfully start
the program. Some functionality may be disabled in yhis mode.
Do you want to start Excel in safe mode?"

Since the web application user do not see this dialogue, the application
hangs. We have "solved" this problem by closing all Excel sessions on the web
server, and restarted the IIS service. Then it runs again for a couple of
weeks.

Now to the questions:
- Is there any way to avoid Excel from prompting to start in safe mode, even
if it crashed the last time?
- What can the causes the problem "Excel failed to start correctly last
time"
- Is there a log for Excel somewhere than can identify the problem?
- We can not start Excel in safe mode since our Add-in does not get loaded
in that mode.

Thankful for any help!

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Nicke,

- Is there any way to avoid Excel from prompting to start in safe mode, even
if it crashed the last time?
- What can the causes the problem "Excel failed to start correctly last
time"
- Is there a log for Excel somewhere than can identify the problem?
- We can not start Excel in safe mode since our Add-in does not get loaded
in that mode.

Excel isn't built for running on a server environment. I have heard reports
that you can only start so many sessions of Excel on the server before running
into trouble. Closing down all Excel sessions once in a while is all you can do
I guess.

I'd suggest you to look into a non-Excel solution to build your reports
server-side, e.g. using the free java based jexcel api (search for JExcel API
in google). I know there is also a .NET based tool available to create Excel
files without the need for an Excel installation, but I forgot its name.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com