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Does anyone know what registry keys need to be modified in order to open macro enabled excel files in a separate instance of Excel (ie: separate windows)?

I followed the instructions on the following pages Microsoft How-To (if you want to open *.xlsx files in separate instances of excel) and relation between registry folders and file extensions. The 'Microsoft How-To' link worked nicely and did exactly what it was supposed to do. However, I need xlsm files to open in separate windows and for the xlsx files to continue to open the default way (all in the same window/excel-instance).

I thought if i modified the Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\open data (similar to what is described in the first link) the *.xlsm files would then always open in a new window each time.

Instead of this working successfully, now when I try to open an *.xlsm file, a blank excel window comes up with no workbook in it (after this failed attempt I imported the original settigs back so everything was restored).

Figure: I believe one of the folders shown in the image below has the key which needs to be changed in order to open excel macro files in separate windows. enter image description here

Fractal
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    The entry highlighted in your screenshot is for Excel 4 macro sheets, which were used to store the old style macros from before VBA was introduced. – teylyn Dec 01 '16 at 00:55
  • I inserted the picture more for a general reference to all the excel options as well as to show the sub-menu which exists within these excel folders. I did not try to modify anything within Excel.Macrosheet. I tried to chang keys within Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12. Changing registry keys in the Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12 directory did affect the behavior of the *.xlsm files when they were opened; just not in the way I had hoped. – Fractal Dec 01 '16 at 15:20
  • Thanks for the response though – Fractal Dec 01 '16 at 15:20

1 Answers1

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You also need to delete the command REG_MULTI_SZ (the one with the seemingly gibberish-cryptographic value). Backup it in case it goes wrong!

Then, the XLSM files will open in a separate Excel program (notice the brief splash screen, which only appears when a new instance of Excel is created).

But be careful! In my tests, the order in which you open the file types make a big difference!

For example, if there is an Excel instance with a XLSM file open, and you open a XLSX file, it will try to reuse the existing Excel instance, because the registry associated to Excel.Sheet.12 tells it to do it no matter the file type already open. Only XLSM files opened after an existing Excel instance is running will create its own instance of Excel.

I will search for a workaround, but I think this is enough for you to start the tests in your computer.

Eduardo Poço
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