Run macro in background

[Andyjim]

I have a scheduled macro that downloads data every 10 minutes. A problem
arises though when the user has another workbook active when the macro is
running. The macro tries to run in the active workbook.
I could make the macro activate the correct workbook before doing the
download, but that interrupts the user's work in another workbook. Is there a
way to keep the scheduled macro in the background, and in the correct
workbook, leaving the user undisturbed working in a different active workbook?

Andy

 

[DomThePom]

Run another instance of excel leaving wb with macro running in other instance?

 

[Andyjim]

I suppose I must be overlooking something obvious here, but what constitutes
another instance? Doesn't opening another Excel file launch another instance?
If not, how do you run another instance?

Andy

 

[Dave Peterson]

Probably not. If you use file|open, then that newly opened workbook will be in
the same already running instance of excel.

But you can start another instance of excel
Windows start button|run
type
excel
and hit ok

Then use file|open to open the other workbook.

Note that this is just having two different programs running (word and
powerpoint, or excel and excel). One instance can't control the other.