Need Excel Workbook to launch at Windows Startup

[Tom K.]

My company uses a macro-driven Excel workbook as a timesheet. With Windows
98, the workbook could be stored in the Windows Startup folder to have it
automatically displayed when the computer was started. With Windows 2000 and
XP, the worksheet no longer will display. Sometimes Excel will launch but
not display the workbook and other times the program does not.

You cannot use Task Scheduler to launch a specific workbook at startup.

Am I the only person who is attempting to have an application launch at
Windows startup?

Any suggestions on how an Excel Timesheet workbook can be automatically
launched when Windows is started?

 

[Peter Huang [MSFT]]

Hi,

I understand that why the Task Schedule did not work with you is that there
is not such option for Excel.exe to specified what workbook to open.
If I misunderstand, please feel free to let me know.

Based on my test, you may specified the path to the workbook as a parameter
in the Task Schedule.
1. Add a new Task Schedule
2. Browse to Excel.exe
3. Check "When I log on", Next
4. Check "Open Advanced properties for this task when I click Finish"
5. A dialog will open,
The content in Run will be as below.
"c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE"

Change it to
"c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" "C:\test.xls"
6. Close OK

You may have a try.

Best regards,

Peter Huang

Microsoft Online Community Support
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[Tom K.]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the research. You are correct, Task Scheduler can be utilized to
launch the spreadsheet. However I need to programatically set this option so
the users do not have to walk through the many steps of scheduling the task.

Task Schedule is wanting the user password in order to set and run the task.
Any thoughts on how this might be addressed?

My goal is they open the spreadsheet, enter their data, click a save button
and the workbook is saved to the hard drive and will launch automatically at
Windows Startup. The program needs to set the task and not the user.

 

[Peter Huang [MSFT]]

Hi,

If so, I think you may try the startup folder.
1. create a shortcut to the Excel.exe.
2. right click on the shortcut and select properties
3. In the ShortCut tab, change the Target path as we do with Task Schedule
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" "C:\test.xls"
4. put the shortcut in the path below.
<Documents and Settings>\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

You may have a try.

Best regards,

Peter Huang

Microsoft Online Community Support
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[Peter Huang [MSFT]]

Hi,

Did my suggestion help you?
If you still have any concern, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,

Peter Huang

Microsoft Online Community Support
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[Tom K.]

Hi Peter,

I really appreciate the suggestions but my dillema is Excel will not
consistently execute from the Startup folder. For 7 years my company had
used a shortcut to an Excel timesheet stored in the startup folder as a means
to remind people to log their time every day. However with Windows 2000 (and
XP), Excel will no longer consistently launch from the startup folder. Excel
may run but without opening the sheet or Excel may not run at all.

It appears I am the only one in the world who wishes to have a speadsheet
launching at startup.

Its embarrasing to have to report to my management that not only is there no
way to do this, it appears that no one else in the world uses this same
procedure of displaying a time sheet at startup for employees to record their
time.

Again, thanks for the suggestions and please let me know if you have any
other ideas.

Sincerely,

Tom

 

[Peter Huang [MSFT]]

Hi,

It is strange that the Startup Folder approach did not work for you.
Anyway, you may try to use the Group Policy: Logon Script to do that.
http://www.comptechdoc.org/os/windows/win2k/win2kgpolicies.html

1. Write a script, e.g. a bat file to run excel.exe with a excel file
2. Run gpedit.msc
3. Click User Configuration/Windows Settings/Scripts(Logon/Logoff)
4. Dbl Click the Logon in the right pane
5. Click Add to add a script by Browse to the script file
6. restart computer.

BTW: this is more of a HOWTO use issue but not a dev issue, for detailed
information about GPO, please post in the newsgroup below.
microsoft.public.win2000.group_policy

Best regards,

Peter Huang

Microsoft Online Community Support
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[Peter Huang [MSFT]]

Hi,

Have you tried my suggestion?
Did that works for your?

Best regards,

Peter Huang

Microsoft Online Community Support
==================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
==================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.