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Excel and windows

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  • P PaulowniaK

    Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

    This is fairly standard behaviour with file types that have default file associations. What happens here is that when you double click the file, the launcher looks for an open instance of the associated application and uses that to open the file. When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense as it prevents you from opening up many instances of an application (which could hammer your system memory).

    But, say, MS Word will open separate windows for every file. I do take your point about too many instances potentially causing problems. What I would love to have is a right click option for excel files to choose whether to open in the current window or create a new instance.

    Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

    P Offline
    P Offline
    Pete OHanlon
    wrote on last edited by
    #17

    What you are talking about is a different thing. This is down to what replaced MDI in Microsoft applications - IIRC it's called Multiple Top Level Documents. Unfortunately, the Excel team implemented the feature differently to the Word team.

    *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

    "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

    CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

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    • P PaulowniaK

      Yes, but that still opens multiple files in the same window. I want it in separate windows. Saves me from accidentally closing the lot too!

      Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

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      D Offline
      Dalek Dave
      wrote on last edited by
      #18

      You were unclear in your original post. A more succinct question will, inevitably, lead to a more precise answer :) In response I would say that you need the 'Clunky' method of opening it, saving it, opening a second instance of Excel and then reopening the file in the second instance. (Cannot see how that is better). Or the alternative way is open two excel sheets in one excel instance. Next you choose the tab "View" and click the "all window" option, then you can select that all the open windows should appear next to each other. When you make your Excel instance a big as your desktop (across two screens) you can see both of the excel sheets in one instance.

      --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

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      • P PaulowniaK

        Yes, but that still opens multiple files in the same window. I want it in separate windows. Saves me from accidentally closing the lot too!

        Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

        P Offline
        P Offline
        Pete OHanlon
        wrote on last edited by
        #19

        PaulowniaK wrote:

        Saves me from accidentally closing the lot too!

        Then open up separate instances of Excel.exe manually. As I state below, this is the replacement for MDI and has nothing to do with opening up from the file system. You see the same behaviour if you create new spreadsheets in one instance of Excel.exe.

        *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

        "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

        CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

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        • J Joan M

          You could middle-click the excel icon already visible in the taskbar and then you will open a new instance, then double click the file and or drag it to the newly openend excel... Hope this helps..

          [www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

          P Offline
          P Offline
          PaulowniaK
          wrote on last edited by
          #20

          Joan Murt wrote:

          You could middle-click the excel icon

          Cool, I didn't know about that! :cool:

          Joan Murt wrote:

          then double click the file

          That puts the file in the excel that was already opened, not the one I just opened with the middle button click.

          Joan Murt wrote:

          drag it to the newly openend excel

          Yup, this always has worked, but you end up with a spare Book1 floating around. No harm done, sure. Just annoyed that something so seemingly simple is so difficult.

          Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

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          • J Joan M

            You could middle-click the excel icon already visible in the taskbar and then you will open a new instance, then double click the file and or drag it to the newly openend excel... Hope this helps..

            [www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

            D Offline
            D Offline
            Dalek Dave
            wrote on last edited by
            #21

            TOP TIP! Even I, Excel Guru Par Excellence, did not know about that! Earns you some man points, and some real ones too :)

            --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

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            • D Dalek Dave

              You were unclear in your original post. A more succinct question will, inevitably, lead to a more precise answer :) In response I would say that you need the 'Clunky' method of opening it, saving it, opening a second instance of Excel and then reopening the file in the second instance. (Cannot see how that is better). Or the alternative way is open two excel sheets in one excel instance. Next you choose the tab "View" and click the "all window" option, then you can select that all the open windows should appear next to each other. When you make your Excel instance a big as your desktop (across two screens) you can see both of the excel sheets in one instance.

              --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

              P Offline
              P Offline
              PaulowniaK
              wrote on last edited by
              #22

              Dalek Dave wrote:

              You were unclear in your original post.

              Apologies. Coffee before pressing the big red button would have been a better idea... Yes, "instances" is what I meant. Thanks for your help. At least I know for certain now that I have to rely on myself to overcome my laziness and carelessness.

              Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

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              • P PaulowniaK

                Joan Murt wrote:

                You could middle-click the excel icon

                Cool, I didn't know about that! :cool:

                Joan Murt wrote:

                then double click the file

                That puts the file in the excel that was already opened, not the one I just opened with the middle button click.

                Joan Murt wrote:

                drag it to the newly openend excel

                Yup, this always has worked, but you end up with a spare Book1 floating around. No harm done, sure. Just annoyed that something so seemingly simple is so difficult.

                Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

                J Offline
                J Offline
                Joan M
                wrote on last edited by
                #23

                PaulowniaK wrote:

                Cool, I didn't know about that! :cool:

                Great, I'm glad it has helped you.

                PaulowniaK wrote:

                That puts the file in the excel that was already opened, not the one I just opened with the middle button click.

                You should click the newly opened excel first, then the file will go to the last excel with focus... (I'm speaking from deep memories). :thumbsup:

                [www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

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                • D Dalek Dave

                  TOP TIP! Even I, Excel Guru Par Excellence, did not know about that! Earns you some man points, and some real ones too :)

                  --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  Joan M
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #24

                  I'm glad it has been useful to you! :thumbsup: and thank you DD!

                  [www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

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                  • J Joan M

                    PaulowniaK wrote:

                    Cool, I didn't know about that! :cool:

                    Great, I'm glad it has helped you.

                    PaulowniaK wrote:

                    That puts the file in the excel that was already opened, not the one I just opened with the middle button click.

                    You should click the newly opened excel first, then the file will go to the last excel with focus... (I'm speaking from deep memories). :thumbsup:

                    [www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

                    P Offline
                    P Offline
                    PaulowniaK
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #25

                    Joan Murt wrote:

                    You should click the newly opened excel first, then the file will go to the last excel with focus... (I'm speaking from deep memories).

                    Sounds extremely sensible... just that I'm still having trouble with that... :doh: I wonder if I can find any Excel settings I've got set strangely...

                    Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

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                    • D DaveAuld

                      http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2007-office_install/opening-wordexcel-document-opens-second-blank/2eadcb0c-7d87-4c89-bf94-496e2c8a6a62[^] May be the solution to your problem!

                      Dave Find Me On: Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn


                      Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                      OriginalGriff
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #26

                      That fixed it! Cheers - it was never a "biggie", so I didn't bother too much, but it helps. Don't you love MS consistency though:

                      winword /r
                      excel /o

                      Both to do the same thing in suite apps... :sigh:

                      Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water

                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                      • D Dalek Dave

                        You were unclear in your original post. A more succinct question will, inevitably, lead to a more precise answer :) In response I would say that you need the 'Clunky' method of opening it, saving it, opening a second instance of Excel and then reopening the file in the second instance. (Cannot see how that is better). Or the alternative way is open two excel sheets in one excel instance. Next you choose the tab "View" and click the "all window" option, then you can select that all the open windows should appear next to each other. When you make your Excel instance a big as your desktop (across two screens) you can see both of the excel sheets in one instance.

                        --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

                        G Offline
                        G Offline
                        Gary R Wheeler
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #27

                        Before Excel 2010, it would not allow you to run multiple instances.

                        Software Zen: delete this;

                        D 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • G Gary R Wheeler

                          Before Excel 2010, it would not allow you to run multiple instances.

                          Software Zen: delete this;

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          Dalek Dave
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #28

                          Ah, maybe, but we are not running obsolete software are we?

                          --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

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                          • P PaulowniaK

                            Pardon me if I'm being extremely thick here, but why is it that when you double click on an excel file in Windows explorer it automatically opens in the current excel window you've got opened? It makes comparing files very difficult. And, say, with Visual Studio, you can pull windows out to have them side by side when you need them, but with Excel, once you've got two files opened in a window you can't get them separated. If anyone could prove me wrong, I'd be more than happy!

                            Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Lost User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #29

                            There are worser problems with Excel, like when a column is wider than what can fit in the window, you have a tough time trying to read through the columns. They only way I know of is to select the column and adjust column width from the context menu.

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                            • D Dalek Dave

                              TOP TIP! Even I, Excel Guru Par Excellence, did not know about that! Earns you some man points, and some real ones too :)

                              --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #30

                              Dalek Dave wrote:

                              Even I, Excel Guru Par Excellence, did not know about that!

                              It's not an Excel feature. It's a Windows 7 feature. Works for all apps (that support opening new windows), not just Excel.

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                              • D Dalek Dave

                                Do you know about VIEW - ARRANGE ALL - SIDE BY SIDE? There, problem solved! :) (It has synchronous scrolling option too).

                                --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

                                S Offline
                                S Offline
                                Slacker007
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #31

                                Dave, you're my hero. :-O

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                                • D Dalek Dave

                                  Ah, maybe, but we are not running obsolete software are we?

                                  --------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]

                                  B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  Brady Kelly
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #32

                                  I have an instance of VB6 open on my desktop right now. I have inquired about another VB6 related gig, but if it at all involves having to use this detestable piece of crap IDE, I will triple my rate. If they still want me, I'll suffer gladly for that money.

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