Excel 2016 - open all files in ONE instance

Anonymous
2018-06-26T15:30:02+00:00

Hello,

I have a problem with my Excel 2016 (16.0.10228.20051 32-bit):

I have one Excel instance running. (N.B. - the "Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)" checkbox in Advanced Options is NOT checked.) What I need is - for all Excel files that I am about to open to open in my first and only Excel instanc e, always, and regardless of:

  • how many files I open simultaneously,
  • where the files are located (i.e. on local drive or on OneDrive so the system needs to download them before opening)

 and including when opening Excel files from other Office apps, i.e. Outlook attachments.

The behavior that I've been seeing in Excel 2016 is, at best, inconsistent:

  1. When opening multiple additional files at once from disk (select multiple files/right-click/Open) - it opens the first n files in the first Excel instance, but then from n+1 file it starts opening them in a new instance.
  2. A variation of the above is when in my first and only Excel instance I have a workbook open in XLSTART folder. Then upon opening multiple files at once, when it reaches it's n+1 file and the new instance launches and tries to open the file in XLSTART folder again, but it is already open in the first instance, so the warning message saying "this file is already open" (or something like that) shows up and files n+2, n+3, n+4, etc. till the last one, will all try to open in a separate instance, each triggering the same warning message.

I'd like to state at this point that this is not file specific, the file n+1 is usually a different file every time.

Also, I am aware of the workaround (i.e. dragging files onto open Excel window) and I am using it - the above is to demonstrate the symptoms I've been experiencing.

  1. When generating Excel files by another application (call it AppX) - you might say that this is likely the AppX's issue - I have no means to verify this unfortunately, however, the randomness of the new instances launching in this case is similar to all other scenarios described here, so I doubt the cause is my AppX.
  2. Finally, when opening Excel files from Outlook email attachments - i.e. double-clicking an Excel attachment in Outlook's reading pane - it may open it in the first Excel instance, but may also decide to open it in a new one. From my testing, if the Excel's file previewer is disabled at that point (i.e. listed under Options/Add-Ins/Manage - Disabled Items) it will most likely open the attachment in a new instance.

So that's my observations, hope it helps to shed some light on the issue. I know how to open files in a new instance if I want it. The problem is, it happens when I don't want it and in some cases, I don't seem to have any control over this.

Thanks,

J.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-04-18T18:48:17+00:00

    yes you will have same issue.  I hate it,  I go to open a work book,  eachtime i open a work book  it starts a new instance of excel.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-01-18T17:33:31+00:00

    Buying a new version will rarely fix a "bug" like this. Before you spend the money, check to confirm that it really will, otherwise, if you are happy with the older version and it is still supported, save your money.

    Hint: you wouldn't be buying 2016 now, you would be buying 2019/365 (unless you buy 2016 from someone other than MS who has "old stock").

    Rohn,

    Thank you for the reminder to not purchase software on the hope that the feature you need will be there.  I did a quick Google search using "Does excel 2019 support MDI" and arrived at a link:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice\_excel-mso\_other-mso\_o365b/excel-2016-open-all-files-in-one-instance/3792d5ae-3d03-4251-9abd-eb81d64e8fde?page=4&rtAction=1547831502082

    Alas, folks there are still grumbling about the lack of MDI support as recently as Jan. 16, 2019.  Most of the comments are from power users who are very much connected to what's happening in Excel.  You can go to the link above and register to receive email updates on the issue. So, my conclusion is NO MDI support in Excel 2019.  Will be sticking with Excel 2010 for some time yet!

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-01-17T15:01:23+00:00

    Thank you for the reply and letting me know that the forum is not MS supported. Good info to have. I did find an update and will see how that works next week. I have run into some interesting problems with Excel over the last twenty years but this one is very aggravating. Thanks again Rohn007.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-01-17T07:46:02+00:00

    Hi J,

    For the gif files you shared in the past, it seems that they are in synced environment and read-only files, could you please have a test in non-synced location and files not read-only?

    Thanks,

    Gloria

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-01-16T14:22:44+00:00

    Gloria,

    Everything you are asking me to do now I have already done half a year ago.

    But OK, I'll do it again when I have some free time (in 5-7 days)

    Thanks,

    J.

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