Excel 2016 - open all files in ONE instance

Here's what the result of dragging 10 files onto an open Excel window looks like (all files open in the first Excel instance - as expected)

And here are the same 10 files opened with a double-click - they open each in a new Excel instance (watch the new instances popping up in Task Manager window) triggering the "file in use" error.

Q - why do you want them all in the same process?

A - multiple reasons, but here are my top four:

1. to have full copy&paste functionality between workbooks - it's not possible to paste special (values, formulas, etc.) between workbooks open in different instances.
2. to be able to utilize multiple existing macros we've built at work over the years which rely on workbooks being open in the same process, without having to write complex code to account for a possibility of multiple processes.
3. to be able to use macros stored in a macro workbook that's not an add-in on all my open excel files (i.e. with file scattered between multiple instances, trying to open the macro workbook in the consecutive instance triggers a warning that the file is already open and does not
4. similarly to point 2, to be able to easily create simple macros whenever I need to automate a repetitive task, i.e. the below simple example code that I could use in a single instance, will not work if Excel decides to open wb2 in a new process:

Sub test()

Set wb1 = Workbooks("test1.xlsx")

Set wb2 = Workbooks("test2.xlsx")

wb1.Sheets(1).Range("A1:H40").Value = wb2.Sheets(1).Range("A1:H40").Value

End Sub

Thanks for the suggestion re Excel 2010. I obviously would have done it long time ago if Excel 2016 wasn't forced company-wide.

@Rohn007 - would you agree that these are good reasons for wanting the consistency of a single Excel instance? MS messed up the above functionalities by allowing Excel to open in a new instance whenever it feels like it.

@Gloria - how is the investigation progressing?

Hi Gloria,

Thanks for looking into this. Yes, the issue is still very much here. I've actually re-imaged my machine yesterday only to experience the same issue in the new system.

To answer your questions:

1. See my initial post for version ID. After re-imaging, I am using Office 16.0.10228.20080 32-bit - in which I continue to experience the same issue.
2. It depends:

• when opening multiple files at once (i.e. 11 files) 4-5 files will open in the first instance, before new instance gets launched for the remaining files.
• for opening xlsx Outlook attachments, it can be as early as the first file (i.e. Excel running with one file open, double-clicking Outlook attachment launches new instance).

Additionally, I recorded the problem related to opening xlsx attachments from Outlook in a gif file below.

I start from un-hiding my personal macro workbook, so that you can see there are no other files open. Then I attempt to open Outlook attachment by double-clicking on it. It looks like it takes Excel a few seconds to react - perhaps this is useful in identifying the cause of the issue. And as you can see, it launches the file in new instance. See more comments below.

Regarding your other comments:

Safe mode - not sure why this was suggested, none of my Office apps want to launch while Windows is in safe mode (see below).

XLSTART folde r - I'm sorry if that wasn't clear in my initial post. Let me explain it better. This isn't about opening multiple files from XLSTART folder. It's about opening multiple files (from any folder) when in my first and only Excel instance a file that sits in XLSTART folder is currently open (i.e. my personal macro workbook). In this example, the moment the 2nd instance launches and generates the "File in use" dialog box, every remaining file will launch a new instance for itself, each generating the same dialog box.

Example:

My Excel is running (one instance only) and my personal macro workbook (located in XLSTART folder) is open in it. Now, I want o open 11 .xlsx files at once. I go to the folder with my files (i.e. C:\Users\Me\Documents), select all 11 files, right-click one and press Open. My files begin to open. Files 1-4 all open in my first Excel instance, but, for some reason, file #5 launches a new instance. The new instance tries to open my personal macro workbook in XLSTART folder, but it is already open in my first instance. So the "File in use" warning message pops-up in the 2nd instance and awaits my input/selection. Meanwhile, file #6 wants to open. I can only assume that it tries to use the 2nd instance, but because the 2nd instance is awaiting my input, it launches a 3rd instance. The third instance attempts to open my personal macro workbook in XLSTART folder and generates the same warning message. Then file #7 wants to open and it goes through the same cycle of launching new instance because the last one awaits user input and triggering the below warning message.  At the end of this loop, I have 8 Excel instances open, 1st one has my personal macro workbook and files 1-4 open, and instances 2nd through 8th are displaying "File in Use" warning message.

Hope this is all clear now, let me know if not.

Thanks,

J.

Hi Gloria,

Sorry for this delay.

The test files I used to demonstrate the problem were NOT protected, read-only or locked for editing. I believe it should be quite clear from the first gif file I shared on June 29th (second post - i.e. dragging files onto open Excel window). If these files were locked for editing then they would have opened, a) with a yellow bar under formula bar saying that the file is locked, etc., or b) if what you are saying in your post from 3rd July were true, they would have opened in multiple instances - but they didn't.

As for any regular, non-test files that I normally work with, they are very rarely read-only or locked for editing, so I am quite sure that the issue is NOT caused by read-only files.

Here's another test I've done in the meantime:

1. I have one Excel instance running.
2. In my Outlook, I pick three email messages containing xlsx attachments, none of which is read-only or locked for editing btw.
3. I double-click each of the three attachments allowing a few seconds in between for the file to open. Each of the files opens in my existing Excel instance.
4. I close the three files in Excel and repeat step 3 two to three times, just to be sure this behavior is consistent.
5. I then single-click the attachments so that I get a preview of the file in Outlook's reading pane before double-clicking the attachment again. This time, nothing opens in my 1st Excel instance, instead, a second instance is open with the first file and all three files open in that 2nd instance.

Thanks,

J.

Hi Gloria,

Yes, I have some of my document libraries synced with OneDrive.

It makes no difference though. See the gif below showing the issue affecting files stored locally all the same.

Thanks,

J.