Multiple Instances of Excel on 64-bit Win7

Cross Posted:
microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general
microsoft.public.excel



(NOTE: This is not a question about getting each Excel file to open in
a new instance. Please read carefully)



Hello all,

On my old system (WinXP Pro, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007):
- If no instances of XL are open and I open an XL file from Win
Explorer, XL would open (don't recall if it is same version every time
or if it would switch), and then the file would open.
- If an instance of XL is open and I open an XL file from Win
Explorer, the file would be opened in the existing instance of XL.
- If an instance of XL2003 and an instance of XL2007 is open and I
open an XL file from Win Explorer, the file would be opened in the
version of XL that is higher up in the Z-Order. I could control which
version of XL to open the file in by making sure I make that version
active before trying to open the file from Explorer. The same holds
true if I had 2 instances of XL2003 open (I assume it would be true
for 2 instances of XL2007, but I don't recall ever trying that).

I LIKE THE WAY THIS WORKS!!! I want all XL files to open in the same
instance by default, but I want the ability to open them in different
instances (without using XL's Open command or dragging and dropping)
should I choose.

My new system (64-bit Win7 and XL2010 (looks to be 32-bit XL)) does
not work the same way. If I have 2 instances of XL2010 open, any XL
file I open from Explorer always opens in the first instance of XL,
regardless of Z-Order.

Is there any system hacks/registry tweaks that can get the new system
behaving like the old XP system was?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide,

CTB

On 11/16/2011 7:44 PM, CTB wrote:
> Cross Posted:
> microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general
> microsoft.public.excel
>
>
>
> (NOTE: This is not a question about getting each Excel file to open in
> a new instance. Please read carefully)
>
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> On my old system (WinXP Pro, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007):
> - If no instances of XL are open and I open an XL file from Win
> Explorer, XL would open (don't recall if it is same version every time
> or if it would switch), and then the file would open.
> - If an instance of XL is open and I open an XL file from Win
> Explorer, the file would be opened in the existing instance of XL.
> - If an instance of XL2003 and an instance of XL2007 is open and I
> open an XL file from Win Explorer, the file would be opened in the
> version of XL that is higher up in the Z-Order. I could control which
> version of XL to open the file in by making sure I make that version
> active before trying to open the file from Explorer. The same holds
> true if I had 2 instances of XL2003 open (I assume it would be true
> for 2 instances of XL2007, but I don't recall ever trying that).
>
> I LIKE THE WAY THIS WORKS!!! I want all XL files to open in the same
> instance by default, but I want the ability to open them in different
> instances (without using XL's Open command or dragging and dropping)
> should I choose.
>
> My new system (64-bit Win7 and XL2010 (looks to be 32-bit XL)) does
> not work the same way. If I have 2 instances of XL2010 open, any XL
> file I open from Explorer always opens in the first instance of XL,
> regardless of Z-Order.
>
> Is there any system hacks/registry tweaks that can get the new system
> behaving like the old XP system was?
>
> Thanks for any help anyone can provide,
>
> CTB

I use this script to make Excel 2003 the default on
Windows 7 x64:

rem Enter this first to disassociate an excel version...
"c:\program files (x86)\microsoft Office2003\Office11\Excel.exe" /unregserver
"c:\program files (x86)\microsoft Office\Office14\Excel.exe" /unregserver

rem Then enter this to specify the default version...
"c:\program files (x86)\microsoft Office2003\Office11\Excel.exe" /regserver

I use this script to make Excel 2010 the default on
Windows 7 x64:

rem Enter this first to disassociate an excel version...
"c:\program files (x86)\microsoft Office2003\Office11\Excel.exe" /unregserver
"c:\program files (x86)\microsoft Office\Office14\Excel.exe" /unregserver

rem Then enter this to specify the default version...
"c:\program files (x86)\microsoft Office\Office14\Excel.exe" /regserver

Note that I installed Excel 2003 in the non-default
directory.

Lynn