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: 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. 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. 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. 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.

One issue that does not appear to be addressed is opening attachments in Outlook. That is a bad practice. If you make any changes to the file, they will be saved in your temp folder, rather than where you expect. You should always download attachments before opening them. You questioned the use of Safe mode. Safe mode in Office applications, like Excel, blocks the start of ALL addins. Addins have a long tradition of causing seemingly random problems in Office applications. There is also a Windows Safe mode that limits the Windows processes started. One of them is required for Office 365 applications. Note: if you have Office 365, after you start Windows you will probably have to manually start the “Microsoft Office Click-To-Run Service”. You will have to start Services.MSC using RUN AS ADMIN. Personally, my need is reverse of yours. I need/want to start Office applications in separate processes. My problem has been when I open too many files in the same process and one of them locks up, I lost unsaved changes in all of the files. As they say, YMMV ... I have not encountered the issue of files being opened in separate processess. Is it possible that this is an automated "feature" that is invoked when the files require too many Windows resources, specifically RAM, Windows automagically starts a new process? Open Task Manager, make note of the RAM in use as you open the files one at a time. I do not recall seeing explicit mention of which "bit" version of Office you have installed. The default is 32-Bit. You could try installing 64-bit. It allows the applications to use more of the available RAM for a single process. Most current PCs have 64bit Windows installed. @ RAM Support increased 32bit Excel 2013-2016 https://www.excelguru.ca/blog/2016/05/10/32-bit-excel-memory-limit-increase/ ****Excel 2016 build 16.0.6**** ways to boot into Windows 10 Safe Mode https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

Hi J, Thank for your reply. Our main priority is to understand the use-case where multiple or one instance of Excel is needed, so that we can provide our findings and involve more resources to investigate this behavior. Can you please let us know in what scenario you would like Excel to open in one instance, and another where you would like Excel to open multiple instances? Best Regards, Gloria

Sorry, I didn't know you were awaiting action from my side. Should have told me, I would have acted much sooner. Gloria, I confirm - the same issue has been affecting other users in my organization. Their Office build is the same as mine. I just went over to two random colleagues and asked them to test the opening of Outlook attachments as well as opening multiple files from a folder simultaneously, both scenarios described in great detail above - the behavior is exactly like the one I am seeing on my machine. I am sorry, but out of respect for my colleagues' time and privacy, providing gifs and screenshots from their machines is at this moment out of the question, you are going to have to take my word for it. Is there anything else you need from me? J.

Hi All, Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I understand how annoying that must be. As much as I'd love to help, I still need to confirm the user cases in your organizations. Could you please share some examples to show the impact with us so that we can move forward? Thanks for your patience and understanding. Best Regards, Gloria

Hi J, Thanks for your reply. Also, I need to confirm what is the issue which opening in different instances brings to you? In addition, please always keep your Office applications up to date since the latest version is Version 1810 (Build 11001.20074) Monthly Channel. Thanks for your understanding. Best Regards, Gloria [Updated by Gloria Gong MSFT 11/10/2018 3:03 AM UTC]

Excel 2016 - open all files in ONE instance

Anonymous

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:

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.
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.

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.
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,

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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47 answers

Anonymous

2018-12-18T20:33:27+00:00

One issue that does not appear to be addressed is opening attachments in Outlook. That is a bad practice. If you make any changes to the file, they will be saved in your temp folder, rather than where you expect. You should always download attachments before opening them.

You questioned the use of Safe mode. Safe mode in Office applications, like Excel, blocks the start of ALL addins. Addins have a long tradition of causing seemingly random problems in Office applications. There is also a Windows Safe mode that limits the Windows processes started. One of them is required for Office 365 applications.

Note: if you have Office 365, after you start Windows you will probably have to manually start the “Microsoft Office Click-To-Run Service”. You will have to start Services.MSC using RUN AS ADMIN.

Personally, my need is reverse of yours. I need/want to start Office applications in separate processes. My problem has been when I open too many files in the same process and one of them locks up, I lost unsaved changes in all of the files. As they say, YMMV ...

I have not encountered the issue of files being opened in separate processess. Is it possible that this is an automated "feature" that is invoked when the files require too many Windows resources, specifically RAM, Windows automagically starts a new process? Open Task Manager, make note of the RAM in use as you open the files one at a time.

I do not recall seeing explicit mention of which "bit" version of Office you have installed. The default is 32-Bit. You could try installing 64-bit. It allows the applications to use more of the available RAM for a single process. Most current PCs have 64bit Windows installed.

@ RAM Support increased 32bit Excel 2013-2016https://www.excelguru.ca/blog/2016/05/10/32-bit-excel-memory-limit-increase/****Excel 2016 build 16.0.6**** ways to boot into Windows 10 Safe Mode

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10
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Anonymous

2018-12-18T17:51:11+00:00

Hi J,

Thank for your reply.

Our main priority is to understand the use-case where multiple or one instance of Excel is needed, so that we can provide our findings and involve more resources to investigate this behavior.

Can you please let us know in what scenario you would like Excel to open in one instance, and another where you would like Excel to open multiple instances?

Best Regards,

Gloria
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Anonymous

2018-12-18T17:33:35+00:00

Sorry, I didn't know you were awaiting action from my side. Should have told me, I would have acted much sooner.

Gloria, I confirm - the same issue has been affecting other users in my organization. Their Office build is the same as mine. I just went over to two random colleagues and asked them to test the opening of Outlook attachments as well as opening multiple files from a folder simultaneously, both scenarios described in great detail above - the behavior is exactly like the one I am seeing on my machine.

I am sorry, but out of respect for my colleagues' time and privacy, providing gifs and screenshots from their machines is at this moment out of the question, you are going to have to take my word for it.

Is there anything else you need from me?

J.
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Anonymous

2018-12-18T17:00:03+00:00

Hi All,

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I understand how annoying that must be. As much as I'd love to help, I still need to confirm the user cases in your organizations.

Could you please share some examples to show the impact with us so that we can move forward?

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Best Regards,

Gloria
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Anonymous

2018-11-08T09:53:05+00:00

Hi J,

Thanks for your reply.

Also, I need to confirm what is the issue which opening in different instances brings to you?

In addition, please always keep your Office applications up to date since the latest version is Version 1810 (Build 11001.20074) Monthly Channel.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best Regards,

Gloria

[Updated by Gloria Gong MSFT 11/10/2018 3:03 AM UTC]
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