Stopping auto-open blank document

[Zeus44]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

Is there anyway of stopping Excel 2008 from automatically opening a new blank workbook every single time I flick into it from other software packages . . . it is so infuriating because nine times out of ten I just want to open an existing spreadsheet.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

Is there anyway of stopping Excel 2008 from automatically opening a new blank
workbook every single time I flick into it from other software packages . . .
it is so infuriating because nine times out of ten I just want to open an
existing spreadsheet.

Use CMD-tab to switch rather than the dock.

Excel's following standard behavior in accordance with the Apple Human
Interface Guidelines for MacOS X:

   Clicking an application icon in the Dock should always
   result in a window ‹ a document or another appropriate
   window ‹ becoming active. If a document-based application
   is not open when the user clicks the Dock icon, the
   application should open a new, untitled window.
   
While an application is open, the Dock icon has a symbol
   below it. When a user clicks an open application¹s icon
   in the Dock, the application becomes active and all open
   unminimized windows are brought to the front; minimized
   document windows remain in the Dock. If there are no
   unminimized windows when the user clicks the Dock icon,
   the last minimized window should be expanded and made
   active. If no documents are open, the application should
   open a new window. (If your application is not
   document-based, display the application¹s main window.)
   
Ref:  http://tinyurl.com/yux79o