Opening unnecessary blank worksheet

  • Thread starter Thread starter Santistas
  • Start date Start date
S

Santistas

Very often I have to upgrade an archive with new data.
So, to open it directly, I created a link (*.ink) to this archive in the desktop
However, each time I open this link, Excel opens also a blank worksheet
(Book1.xls).

How could I avoid opening also this blank one?
(I'm using Excel 2003)

Thanks
 
Hi Sanistas,
I used to have that problem don't remember why.

First of all check that it is an empty workbook. If it is
you will want to get rid of it later.

Close the book1.xls without saving.
Look at your tools. options, General
Default File location: okay to have a directory here
Alternate Startup location: most people should leave this empty

The alternate startup location, like files in your XLSTART
directory are opened when Excel opens. You should not have
a Book.xls or a book1.xls there.

Files you might find in your XLSTART directory.
You may have a template for new workbooks there book.xlt and a
template for new worksheets created later on sheet.xlt and if you have
macros probably a personal.xls which is opened and should be hidden.
 
Santistas

To prevent the Book1.xls opening append a <space>/e to your .lnk path.

"C:\Program Files\your path\to Excel\filename.xls" /e

If you never want to have Book1.xls opening........

Go to Start>Settings>Folder>Options>File Types. Scroll down to MS Excel
Worksheet. Then if running Win98 OS Edit> select "Open" and Edit.

If using WinXP OS you would scroll down to .XLS then "Advanced">Open>Edit.

In Command line the path should be similar to this....

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE\EXCEL.EXE" /e

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
Hi David,
Hi Gord,

I searched my drives and I found no "Book.xls" or "book1.xls" archives
anywhere.

In XLStart directory I have only PDFMaker.xla.

I included the option " /e" at end of the target of my link
(now it looks like "C:\Program Files\your path\to Excel\filename.xls" /e)

I checked File Types > .XLS > "Advanced"> Open > Edit. and the command line had
already the option " /e" at end: ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\Excel.Exe" /e) .

However, despite all this, I click my link <filename.xls> and together with it,
<book1.xls> continues also opening.

Santistas,
 
Hi Santistas

Using Excel 2002 I went into Windows Explorer and created a shortcut to
a particular Workbook on my Desktop. The "Target" destination simply
being
"C:\Ozgrid Likom\Testings\Book6.xls"

This opened Book6.xls only when Excel was open or closed.

Is that how you created your link?

***** Posted via: http://www.ozgrid.com
Excel Templates, Training & Add-ins.
Free Excel Forum http://www.ozgrid.com/forum *****
 
Yes Dave,

The target of my shortcut seems now like:

"C:\Program Files\your path\to Excel\filename.xls" /e

But it opens a blank "Book1.xls" with or without the option "/e".

Santistas
 
Hi Santistas

I'm clutching at straws here, but when in Excel go to
Tools>Options>General and ensure "At startup, open all files in:" is
blank.

Are there any Workbook Open/Activate macros in the Workbook that may
cause this?

***** Posted via: http://www.ozgrid.com
Excel Templates, Training & Add-ins.
Free Excel Forum http://www.ozgrid.com/forum *****
 
Hi Dave,

Yes, the box "At startup, open all files in:" is blank.
Yes, I had two macros in that Workbook and I deleted all them.

But the simultaneous opening of a blank "Book1.xls" is still there!

Comments:
The target of the shortcut is still of the type: "C:\Program Files\your path\to
Excel\filename.xls" /e

I see that in the menu of the macro dialog box I have four options:
1=All open Workbooks; 2=This Workbook; 3=Book1 and 4=Filename.xls
All them are clean and have no macro.

Santistas
 
If it's really named book1.xls (not book1 w/o the .xls), then you may want to
look in your XLStart folder for book1.xls.

If you don't need it, delete it (or move it elsewhere).

(I'm not sure if that was a typo in your post, though. In your comments about
the macro stuff, you showed Book1 (w/o the extension).)
 
And when I have a shortcut pointing directly to the .xls
target: "c:\my documents\excel\test.xls"

It opens that file and no other.

This is a slightly different shortcut than Gord suggested.
 
Hi Dave,

Yes, you are right; the name of the window is Book1, without the xls extension.
I didn't observe this before.
What can be done now?

Thanks,

Santista
 
Have you tried changing your shortcut to your filename.xls to point directly to
that file?

I didn't get an extra workbook when I started excel (and that workbook) that
way.

And if all else fails, maybe you should reregister excel.

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets the windows registry to excel's
factory defaults.

(this can't hurt, but it may not help.)
 
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