We've gotten reports that the functionality in interaction between MS Excel and Windows 7 has changed.  Previously, one was able to open two instances of Excel.exe and then double the desired *.xls from Windows explorer and the file would open in the last excel instance that was in focus.  This no longer occurs.  In Windows 7, the first excel instance opened always grabs the file.  I've confirmed this occurs in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010.
While using the File open dialog from within Excel does offer a workaround, this solution does not offer the simple need my end user has, to open the desired xls which has been received as an email attachment.  Any ideas on how to address? 
I'm aware of the /e "%1" fix on the xls and xlsx extensions.  That fix does not address this specfic issue.  For the record I've already imported the following reg entries as the file type association no longer permits the DDE change directly.  TIA for suggestion, comments, workaround or simple moral support.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\OFFICE11\\EXCEL.EXE\" /e \"%1\""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\OFFICE11\\EXCEL.EXE\" /e \"%1\""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.14\shell\Open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\OFFICE11\\EXCEL.EXE\" /e \"%1\""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec] @="[open(\"%1\")]"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddeexec] @="[open(\"%1\")]"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.14\shell\Open\ddeexec] @="[open(\"%1\")]"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec\application] @="Excel"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddeexec\application] @="Excel"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.14\shell\Open\ddeexec\application] @="Excel"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec\topic] @="system"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddeexec\topic] @="system"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Excel.Sheet.14\shell\Open\ddeexec\topic] @="system"

Hi,

 

To launch multiple instances of Excel, we change it by not using DDE to open the file.

 

For Windows Vista and Windows 7, we need to edit the registry to remove DDE completely.

===============

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs.

 

1.       Click Start, in the Search box, type regedit and press Enter.

2.       Locate the registry subkey: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open

3.       Delete the ddeexec subkey.

4.       Click on the command subkey, and then double-click the Default value from the right pane. Replace the value data with:  "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" "%1"

Double-click the Command string value, replace its data with:  (f'^Vn-}f(ZXfeAR6.jiEXCELFiles>!De@]Vz(r=f`1lfq`?R& "%1"

 

Best Regards,

 

Sally Tang

TechNet Subscriber Support in forum

If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com  

 

 

Hi,

 

I am writing to see how everything is going with this issue. Is the problem resolved? If there is anything I can do for you, please feel free to let me know.

 

Best Regards,

 

Sally Tang

TechNet Subscriber Support in forum

If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com   

Thanks for your reply.  Strangly, i was not notified of it, I was only advised of the follow up.  I'm implementing the suggested registry fix on a test machine and should be able to confirm results later today.  I'll update this thread when I do.

 

Again, Thank you for your time.

OK. Please take your time.

 

Best Regards,

 

Sally Tang

TechNet Subscriber Support in forum

If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com   

 

Hi,

Thanks again for your assistance. I did apply the registry changes as suggested on Friday, but begun getting a new error on attempt to open any .xlsx.  Error is "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed". Unforunately, the registry entries suggested are not valid.  You referenced HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12 but provided a value pointing to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE"

So I modified HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open  to point to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\EXCEL.EXE" "%1" instead.  That still results in the error message.  Can you provide an alternate value for the Command string?

 

Thanks much

It seems like the answer is in thread: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/office2007deploymentcompatibility/thread/c42f825d-b7e8-48c8-b5af-30563b839f09

 

In my computer (W7 + Excel 2000 & 2010)  it worked also when I deleted in registry Command string and branch of Ddeexec + added "%1" instead of "/dde" in Default value.

 

 

Taavi

Sally,

Is it possible to have a context menu that gives the user the option to right-click on a document and select whether to open it in an existing Excel instance OR open it in a new instance?  I've got coworkers who want it both ways, depending on what they're opening.

Would we need Registry entries set up for each type of Excel file (.xls, .xlsx, .xlsm)?  Also, we frequently open tab separated valve Text files (with .tsv extension) in Excel, so I'd like to know what registry tweaks will get these same options for these files.

Thanks!

Erik

One solution is to use a small utility that takes the file to open as argument, lists all EXCEL.exe, picks the last active one (the one with lowest z-order), get the automation controller for that window and opens the workbook file. Link to such a tool: http://tkljh.s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/quant/tools/ActiveExcelOpen.zip You need to associate Excel files extension you use (.csv, .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm) to open with this tool.

Claude, this is brilliant.  The only problem is that it only works if at least one Excel instance is open.  Would you be willing to share your source so that scenario could be handled?  Or if you have time could you update the code yourself?  All you'd need to do is identify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Excel\InstallRoot\Path or

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\13.0\Excel\InstallRoot or

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Excel\InstallRoot or

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\13.0\Excel\InstallRoot

I don't think you'd need to look at 12 and below because those (as far as I know) work.  And I think I read that 15.0 (Excel 2013) addressed it.