Excel Instances

Excel Instances

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Hi

Until today (something must have "changed" on my PC!) whenever I opened multiple Excel files/opened a new workbook each one would be in it's own instance/window of Excel, they could still be linked by formula, copy and and paste values etc. but separate which makes changing between sheets (Alt + Tab) easy and efficient.

However, as of today whenever I open more than one Excel file/open a new workbook, they are all within one instance/window of excel, meaning the only way to go from one to the other is to "Restore Window" at the top right of the work book i'm in so that all workbooks are stacked within Excel and i can go to the one I want - not quick or efficient.

Also, previously the Excel icon on the task bar would appear as if it were stacked with other icons behind it, a right click made it easy to move to another workbook.

Thanks in advance

Replies (5)

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By ShirleyM
02nd Jul 2015 11:09

Which version of Excel?

It's a known problem with MS Office 2010 and I don't know of a fix but do know of a long winded 'workaround'. I do know a fix for 2003, 2007, and 2013 versions.

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By NHGlos
02nd Jul 2015 11:13

2010

Hi, thanks for the reply

Yes, I should have mentioned it's 2010, weird thing is it never used to be like this, I'm wondering if it came about due to a Windows update etc. I'm also have having a few snags with IE, may or may not be coincidental...

Thanks again

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By jashbee
17th Jul 2015 15:15

Hi

This could be a windows thing, if you have Windows 7,

Right Click on the Start Button, then select properties,

Select the  taskbar tab, then select 5th Item down says Taskbar Buttons,

select Option Never Combine.

Then hit Apply and OK

This should now open each excel file in a new window.

I hope this helps

James

Thanks (1)
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
17th Jul 2015 15:46

Alternative

If you have multiple spreadsheets open within one instance of Excel pressing "Ctrl+Tab" switches between them. The first time it switches to the most recently used before the one you are in. Holding down Ctrl and repeatedly pressing Tab cycles through all the open spreadsheets.

In fact the same applies for any program where you have multiple items open within one window (e.g. tabs in a browser, modules in Sage, etc)

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