How to open multiple excel files as separate tasks on the taskbar?

[Bread]

I dont know how i lost the ability, but i used to be able to open excel files
as separate windows. Now, it seems everytime i open a new file, it opens
within Excel and i have to go through "Windows" in the toolbar to switch
between files. Is there any way to restore the aboilty to open each ecel
file as a separate window?

 

[Dave Peterson]

What version of excel are you using?

xl2k has a bug that turns off windows in taskbar when you open a shared
workbook.

 

[Bread]

I have MS Office Excel 2003.

Is there an addin i can DL to restore it? It so inconvenient. It was much
easier to switch between Excel files through the taskbar rather than within
Excel toolbar.

 

[Mike]

I dont know how i lost the ability, but i used to be able to open excel files
as separate windows.  Now, it seems everytime i open a new file, it opens
within Excel and i have to go through "Windows" in the toolbar to switch
between files.  Is there any way to restore the aboilty to open each ecel
file as a separate window?  

Not quite sure what the question is here.

If it's about grouping in the task bar you just need to edit the
windows taskbar settings?

If you mean you want to open each spreadsheet in a new instance of
excel, I believe it's something
to do with the file association. If your running vista tweaking of
file associations has been limited
somewhat.

I actually have the opposite problem - my excel 2007 opening every
workbook in a new instance stops my
global macros from working on these sheets, as personal.xls only opens
in the first instance and you
get extra dialogue boxes every time you open a file. I have yet to
find the answer!

Mike

 

[Gord Dibben]

Tools>Options>View>Windows in Taskbar


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Dave Peterson]

xl2k had the bug.

xl2003 doesn't have the bug.

I have MS Office Excel 2003.

Is there an addin i can DL to restore it? It so inconvenient. It was much
easier to switch between Excel files through the taskbar rather than within
Excel toolbar.

 

[Frank]

Mike,

I would like to have my Excel 2007 opening every
workbook in a new instance (of Excel) when I double click on the file in
Explorer, how did you manage to get that to work in Vista? Not fiddle with
file extensions but with the taskbar or what ever that is called now in Vista?

Thanks

Frank