Why doesn't excel let me have two files of the same name open?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brad
  • Start date Start date
I don't think any program lets you have 2 identically named files open at the
same time. How would it know which one you were truly working in?


: This "feature" enrages me more than any other. Is there
: any way to turn it off?
 
There are programs that use the whole filename (path included) to avoid that
problem.
 
If you're not doing much between the two workbooks, maybe you could just open
another instance of excel.

(But I would find this more confusing than just renaming one of the files.)
 
Dave Peterson wrote
If you're not doing much between the two workbooks, maybe you could
just open another instance of excel.
Click to expand...

If I do this in XL2000, I get 'File in Use' notifications on Personal.xls
and file I'm trying to open a second copy of, making them both Read Only.
 
You didn't want to open two different files with the same name (in different
folders)?????

You wanted to open the same file twice?

If that's true, I missed the question completely.

But you could just open the file once. Then use Window|new window to get
another view of the same workbook. (Nice for examining different areas.)

Ahhhh. You're not the original poster. So ignore my ranting. (Yeah, I could
have deleted it, but it's more fun to rant!)

The new window may be what you want.

Excel will try to help you by showing a colon # in the title bar:

book1.xls:1 for the first window

When you decide you don't want this anymore, you can activate the window you
want to close and hit ctrl-W. (then save??)

Unless the workbook is shared, only one person can own the file for updates.
(And sharing workbooks brings a lot of baggage--I wouldn't use it in this
situation.)

(It wouldn't bother me if my personal.xls were readonly in a second instance of
excel. I don't edit it that often anyway--just be careful to update the one
that's "live" if you must.)
 
Dave Peterson wrote
You didn't want to open two different files with the same name (in
different folders)?????

You wanted to open the same file twice?

If that's true, I missed the question completely.

But you could just open the file once. Then use Window|new window to
get another view of the same workbook. (Nice for examining different
areas.)

Ahhhh. You're not the original poster. So ignore my ranting.
(Yeah, I could have deleted it, but it's more fun to rant!)

The new window may be what you want.

Excel will try to help you by showing a colon # in the title bar:

book1.xls:1 for the first window

When you decide you don't want this anymore, you can activate the
window you want to close and hit ctrl-W. (then save??)

Unless the workbook is shared, only one person can own the file for
updates. (And sharing workbooks brings a lot of baggage--I wouldn't
use it in this situation.)

(It wouldn't bother me if my personal.xls were readonly in a second
instance of excel. I don't edit it that often anyway--just be careful
to update the one that's "live" if you must.)
Click to expand...

New window it is if I have a need for it. I was just curious as to how I
could impliment your suggestion if I had a future need, so I jumped in.
 
No problem.

Sorry if I scared you off. About half the stuff I post is for my own
enjoyment--so I was having a little fun. (It's disappointing that that
qualified as fun for me, but that's another story! <vbg>)
 
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