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"