Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 26 down vote favorite
11

When I have Excel running and I double click an Excel file in Windows explorer, I'd like it to launch in a new window by default so that I can move documents to separate monitors. Is there any way to get this behavior?

share|improve this question

6 Answers

up vote 32 down vote accepted

I've had this problem too. Here's what I did:

In Excel 2003, go to Tools -> Options -> General tab.

Make sure the option, ‘Ignore other applications’ is checked.

In Excel 2007 & 2010, Click the Office button -> Excel Options -> Advanced.

Under General, check ‘Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange’.

I don't know why this isn't built in. Source: http://www.lytebyte.com/2008/05/13/how-to-open-two-excel-files-side-by-side-in-separate-monitors/

share|improve this answer
1  
Wow! How unobvious is that? – RBarryYoung Aug 16 '09 at 18:50
Awesome!!!! You are a star... @RBarryYoung: totally, perhaps that should be in the main window? Also, we should be able to filter those settings with a search box – Chris Dec 4 '09 at 21:50
4  
Why didn't they just call the option "jowfeio woif who82r wcjnmwvo 902r3hj2 w082f8"? it would have been more obvious! If I could +5 this answer, I would. Nay, I would +10 it. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! – Michael Bray Mar 8 '12 at 17:14
2  
I signed up for a super user account just to upvote this answer. Thank you! – Neil Vass Nov 1 '12 at 13:51
1  
Didn't work for me (Office 2010 & Win 7). When I check the option, I can't open any Excel files: There was a problem sending the command or something similar. – Nolonar Apr 22 at 16:14
show 1 more comment
up vote 5 down vote

There are certain disadvantages to having all your workbooks opened in different windows. For one thing, if you write a formula in one workbook which references another, it will include the full file path of the other workbook. For another, copy/pasting from one workbook to another reduces the number of options available for the destination data, like keeping the column widths, etcetera. It's possible that for your purposes those things won't matter much, but basically if you experience any "weird" behavior when using multiple workbooks in multiple windows, you might try opening them in the same window to see if the weirdness goes away.

My preference is to leave the default behavior to open Excel workbooks in the same window, and when I want individual workbooks opened in different windows I right-click the file and select "Open in New Instance". In order to do that, I wrote this small utility. It's free. Feel free to install it.

share|improve this answer
Cool! Thanks for the utility~ – Leftium Oct 8 '10 at 21:46
You're welcome. :) – Nick Oct 8 '10 at 22:00
I don't think your utility, as simple as it seems, would work if I'm opening Excel files from Outlook, right? Assuming the answer is "correct", then what would be REALLY nice is to have files that normally open in Excel actually open in a "hidden" application that can then either open the file in a new instance or somehow detect (eg SHIFT key held down?) that I want to open in an existing instance, and then if there's more than one instance, ask me which one. If you can do that, I'd buy it (for a fair price). – Michael Bray Mar 27 at 21:02
You are correct: the utility will not work directly from Outlook. Your suggestion is interesting. But implementing it would make my utility way more invasive and resource intensive than I ever intended it to be. – Nick Mar 28 at 2:57
up vote 3 down vote

Excel 2007: If you have access to edit your windows registry, here are a few registry files that add the option to open in a new instance (either by default or not) when you right-click on your files so you can use both functionalities.

There is a .reg file to 'uninstall' it as well. Tried and tested in excel 2007 (32-bits windows). I believe the technique is the same as in hyperslug's answer: DDE or not.

share|improve this answer
Now that's much better! I just had to add "(x86)" to the paths in the registry file since I run on 64bit. – David Schmitt Jan 25 '10 at 14:56
up vote 2 down vote

Since hyperslug's answer didn't work for me, I followed "Option B" from his link and now open a new (empty) Excel from the start menu and drag'n'drop the file I want to open into the new window.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

Here's another set of registry files I (which I created) to solve the same problem: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Office_Productivity/Office_Suites/MS_Office/Excel/A_1007-Option-to-open-excel-2007-documents-in-a-new-instance.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+30+excel+instanc+new

Gives a right click menu to open excel files in a new instance, and optionally makes it the default behavior, but still leaves the option to open it in an existing instance if the workbooks need cutting and pasting with formatting between them.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

This thread is old, but the problem is persistent! Hyperslugs solution didn't work for me, but I found a nifty launcher application that middle-mans the opening of excel documents and forces new instances. It can be found here http://blog.thomascsherman.com/2010/06/opening-excel-files-in-new-processes-excel-launcher-helper-app/ . I hope this helps someone with this annoying problem.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.