Opening multiple Excel files from IE browser does not open in new instance of Excel - BUG?

All,

Opening multiple Excel files from IE browser does not open in new instance
of Excel. Registry settings are set to ensure that each .XLS file is opened
in a new instance of Excel.

This is a painful problem since we have simoultaneous applications that may
need to run ont he user machine and we always want them to open in a new
window regardless if they were opened from IE or double clicked or not!
These .XLS applications are opened via IE.
1. IE7

2. Office 2007

3. Followed instructions here to ensure every .XLS file opens in a new
window:
http://myitkb.net/83/open-excel-2007...t-windows.html

4. Open 2 different ..XLS files from IE, and they *ALWAYS* open in the same
instance of Excel, OR they open in the first instance of Excel that was
opened prior to opening .XLS files from IE.

How to repro:
1. Follow steps in link above (including comments below article if
necessary).
2. Double click any 2 .xls files on your computer/lan/network, but not from
IE.
RESULTS: Files open in seperate instances of Excel! Wonderful!
3. Leave those files open noting which one was opened first and which one
was opened second.
4. Open ANY .xls file from IE browser (Google search for filetype:xls will
bring up a few random ones)
RESULTS: File opens in the FIRST instance of Excel that you opened. File
does NOT open in new instance of Excel.
5. Close all files
6. Repeat step 4 twice (so 2 different .xls files are opened)
RESULTS: Files open in the same instance of Excel. Second file does NOT
open in new instance of Excel.

We *need* each file opened from IE to respect the Windows settings for
opening in a new instance of Excel per workbook. We do not want them to
open in the same window as the browser either (e.g. Excel opens inside of IE
window), so that solution is not available to us either.

This looks to me like a bug that Internet Explorer is not respecting the
Windows setting for opening each file in a new window. Any way I can get
the IE shell to respect the settings for Excel (or any other program I want
to open in seperate windows)???

Please help! TIA

Troy

(cross-post added to Excel Setup)
"Troy Munford" <troy.munford@sba.gov> wrote in message news:eEevPgMXKHA.1280@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> All,
>
> Opening multiple Excel files from IE browser does not open in new instance
> of Excel. Registry settings are set to ensure that each .XLS file is opened
> in a new instance of Excel.
>
> This is a painful problem since we have simoultaneous applications that may
> need to run ont he user machine and we always want them to open in a new
> window regardless if they were opened from IE or double clicked or not!
> These .XLS applications are opened via IE.
> 1. IE7
>
> 2. Office 2007
>
> 3. Followed instructions here to ensure every .XLS file opens in a new
> window:
> http://myitkb.net/83/open-excel-2007...t-windows.html


That will just be opening files by Windows Explorer, e.g. using
whatever combination assoc .xls and ftype show.

Or, fully parameterized, in a cmd window enter this command:

for /F "TOKENS=2 DELIMs==" %t in ('assoc .xls') do ftype %t



> 4. Open 2 different ..XLS files from IE, and they *ALWAYS* open in the same
> instance of Excel, OR they open in the first instance of Excel that was
> opened prior to opening .XLS files from IE.


That's not likely to be the same; e.g. it's more likely to be done via DDE.
AFAIK you can't see DDE via the cmd line. And how you do see it
could depend on your OS which you have not disclosed.


>
> How to repro:
> 1. Follow steps in link above (including comments below article if
> necessary).
> 2. Double click any 2 .xls files on your computer/lan/network, but not from
> IE.
> RESULTS: Files open in seperate instances of Excel! Wonderful!


Right. That's equivalent to entering whatever command ftype showed you
(e.g. in the Run... dialog) and substituting its parameter with the file name
you have selected.


> 3. Leave those files open noting which one was opened first and which one
> was opened second.
> 4. Open ANY .xls file from IE browser (Google search for filetype:xls will
> bring up a few random ones)
> RESULTS: File opens in the FIRST instance of Excel that you opened. File
> does NOT open in new instance of Excel.


I think that would depend on your install of Excel, not IE.
E.g. in XPsp3 where I only have the Excel reader installed
I can Run... (e.g. press Win-R and enter

control.exe folders

Then File Types, Extension .xls, Advanced, Edit Open Action shows

F:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\Moc.exe "%1"

Use DDE is checked

and DDE Application is Moc (whatever that is)

I just remembered I recently installed Outlook 2003 (and maybe
Office on demand too), so I suspect that I will see something different
from your symptom... <eg>

Yes. I just get the Office Converter tool in both cases. How useful! ; ]

BTW thanks for the tip about searching with filetype:xls


> 5. Close all files
> 6. Repeat step 4 twice (so 2 different .xls files are opened)
> RESULTS: Files open in the same instance of Excel. Second file does NOT
> open in new instance of Excel.


So, if you have XP is your Use DDE checked?
If so, won't it be up to Excel to decide whether a new
instance of itself needs to be launched?


>
> We *need* each file opened from IE to respect the Windows settings for
> opening in a new instance of Excel per workbook. We do not want them to
> open in the same window as the browser either (e.g. Excel opens inside of IE
> window), so that solution is not available to us either.
>
> This looks to me like a bug that Internet Explorer is not respecting the
> Windows setting for opening each file in a new window. Any way I can get
> the IE shell to respect the settings for Excel (or any other program I want
> to open in seperate windows)???
>
> Please help! TIA
>
> Troy


I think you're more likely to get help with this from an Excel NG.
Cross-posting to one for convenience.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

Robert - Thanks. You are the only one who replied after I posted on the regular Excel forum (as well as your post in the Setup
group)!

I can clarify a few questions you had:

Results from cmd window:
C:\Documents and Settings\tamunfor>ftype Excel.Sheet.8
Excel.Sheet.8="C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"

RE #4. If IE is always likely to use DDE, how do I force DDE to open new instances of a program? I'm using Windows XP SP2. Use
DDE is not checked (as per those instructions in the link sent in last message). I have since checked the box, and changed the DDE
command to [open("%1")] (default setting for Excel 2007), but it doesn't fix the problem either.

How do I know how DDE is doing it (e.g. from "control.exe folders" command)? Is there a setting I need to use instead in the DDE
area?

Our office has the full install of Office 2007 - not just the reader.

I still have the issue. Maybe there is a list of DDE commands that will be used by IE? I tried [new("%1")] already and still
nothing.

The problem is driving me, and my client crazy!

Troy


"Robert Aldwinckle" <robald@techemail.com> wrote in message news:uB6U7mjXKHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> (cross-post added to Excel Setup)
> "Troy Munford" <troy.munford@sba.gov> wrote in message news:eEevPgMXKHA.1280@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> All,
>>
>> Opening multiple Excel files from IE browser does not open in new instance
>> of Excel. Registry settings are set to ensure that each .XLS file is opened
>> in a new instance of Excel.
>>
>> This is a painful problem since we have simoultaneous applications that may
>> need to run ont he user machine and we always want them to open in a new
>> window regardless if they were opened from IE or double clicked or not!
>> These .XLS applications are opened via IE.
>> 1. IE7
>>
>> 2. Office 2007
>>
>> 3. Followed instructions here to ensure every .XLS file opens in a new
>> window:
>> http://myitkb.net/83/open-excel-2007...t-windows.html
>
>
> That will just be opening files by Windows Explorer, e.g. using
> whatever combination assoc .xls and ftype show.
>
> Or, fully parameterized, in a cmd window enter this command:
>
> for /F "TOKENS=2 DELIMs==" %t in ('assoc .xls') do ftype %t
>
>
>
>> 4. Open 2 different ..XLS files from IE, and they *ALWAYS* open in the same
>> instance of Excel, OR they open in the first instance of Excel that was
>> opened prior to opening .XLS files from IE.
>
>
> That's not likely to be the same; e.g. it's more likely to be done via DDE.
> AFAIK you can't see DDE via the cmd line. And how you do see it
> could depend on your OS which you have not disclosed.
>
>
>>
>> How to repro:
>> 1. Follow steps in link above (including comments below article if
>> necessary).
>> 2. Double click any 2 .xls files on your computer/lan/network, but not from
>> IE.
>> RESULTS: Files open in seperate instances of Excel! Wonderful!
>
>
> Right. That's equivalent to entering whatever command ftype showed you
> (e.g. in the Run... dialog) and substituting its parameter with the file name
> you have selected.
>
>
>> 3. Leave those files open noting which one was opened first and which one
>> was opened second.
>> 4. Open ANY .xls file from IE browser (Google search for filetype:xls will
>> bring up a few random ones)
>> RESULTS: File opens in the FIRST instance of Excel that you opened. File
>> does NOT open in new instance of Excel.
>
>
> I think that would depend on your install of Excel, not IE.
> E.g. in XPsp3 where I only have the Excel reader installed
> I can Run... (e.g. press Win-R and enter
>
> control.exe folders
>
> Then File Types, Extension .xls, Advanced, Edit Open Action shows
>
> F:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\Moc.exe "%1"
>
> Use DDE is checked
>
> and DDE Application is Moc (whatever that is)
>
> I just remembered I recently installed Outlook 2003 (and maybe
> Office on demand too), so I suspect that I will see something different
> from your symptom... <eg>
>
> Yes. I just get the Office Converter tool in both cases. How useful! ; ]
>
> BTW thanks for the tip about searching with filetype:xls
>
>
>> 5. Close all files
>> 6. Repeat step 4 twice (so 2 different .xls files are opened)
>> RESULTS: Files open in the same instance of Excel. Second file does NOT
>> open in new instance of Excel.
>
>
> So, if you have XP is your Use DDE checked?
> If so, won't it be up to Excel to decide whether a new
> instance of itself needs to be launched?
>
>
>>
>> We *need* each file opened from IE to respect the Windows settings for
>> opening in a new instance of Excel per workbook. We do not want them to
>> open in the same window as the browser either (e.g. Excel opens inside of IE
>> window), so that solution is not available to us either.
>>
>> This looks to me like a bug that Internet Explorer is not respecting the
>> Windows setting for opening each file in a new window. Any way I can get
>> the IE shell to respect the settings for Excel (or any other program I want
>> to open in seperate windows)???
>>
>> Please help! TIA
>>
>> Troy
>
>
> I think you're more likely to get help with this from an Excel NG.
> Cross-posting to one for convenience.
>
>
> Good luck
>
> Robert Aldwinckle
> ---
>
>