excel keeps launching worksheets automatically

[pc.wiz]

Starting today, when I try to launch Excel, it starts wildly launching
all these office files automatically. I checked in the startup file
folder for Excel, and no files are located there. I was able to
launch Excel using the shift key to get into Preferences and no
Alternate Startup location is specified. Any ideas?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Starting today, when I try to launch Excel, it starts wildly launching
all these office files automatically. I checked in the startup file
folder for Excel, and no files are located there. I was able to
launch Excel using the shift key to get into Preferences and no
Alternate Startup location is specified. Any ideas?

Strange - if you're certain there are no files in the
HD:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004(X):Office:Startup:Excel folder,
then try, with XL closed, trashing its preference file:

~:Libraryreferences:Microsoft:com.microsoft.Excel.prefs.plist

(where ~ is your home directory).

 

[CyberTaz]

Just a wild guess, but you haven't possibly saved a Workspace consisting of
these files, have you? If so reopening the workspace file will cause all
files saved in it to reopen. Can be done accidentally if you have several
files open then happen to select Save Workspace from the File menu.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[pc.wiz]

Over the weekend, I had reset the RAM Parameters because we had an
unsettling shutdown earlier in the week that was preceded by the fan
sounding like a freight train. After resetting RAM Parameters, I
opened a ghastly number of files trying to recreate the event, but all
I did was freeze the machine. It is possible that I accidentallly hit
save workspace before cold booting the machine...but how do I revert
the workspace? I already tried trashing the prefs file before posting
the message to the board.

Thanks again for all your help...

Pat

 

[CyberTaz]

A workspace file would have an icon that looks a bit different from the
standard Excel icon - has more green in the body of the icon like a column
chart - and would have a .xlw extension. If that is it, just don't open it
You can go to the folder where it is stored (in the Finder) and delete it
- it only contains instructions to the app as to what files to open, how to
arrange the windows, etc. It isn't the workbook files themselves, so you
won't be deleting any of the files it "points to".

Based on the additional info, though, I'm not certain that is the problem.
It sounds like you have some damage control to do.

The first thing I would try is just running Disk Utility - Repair Disk
Permissions... It probably won't fix the problem but it can't hurt.

Secondly, start up from the OS X install disk, go to the Utilities menu &
launch Disk Utility from there - not the copy on your hard drive. Select the
HD from the left list, then run Repair Disk (button on the right). You may
have to run it several times until no errors are found. (Alternatively, if
you have Disk Warrior or Tech Tool Pro you might prefer to run that.)

If the problem persists, post back with complete details of any error
messages or dialogs you get along the way. We also need to know specific
versions of Excel/Office & OS X in order to go any further.

Another loooooong shot: Check to see if you may have accidentally had the
macro recorder running while opening those files before
(Tools>Macro>Macros).

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Hilena Hailu [MSFT]]

Hi Pat,

Thank you for reporting this issue. It was recently brought to our attention
in this newsgroup, and we are investigating it. Do you mind if I contact you
directly to understand what exactly is going on?

By the way, is there any chance you might have a folder named Excel on your
machine?

Hilena Hailu
Macintosh Business Unit
Microsoft Corp.