Windows 7: Open Excel workbook in active window rather than first window

Hi,

I have recently upgraded to Windows 7 and Office 2010 and though I'm starting to get used to all the changes there is one thing which is really bugging me.

When I have two separate Excel windows open and open an Excel file from Windows Explorer the file will open in the first window not in the active Excel window. If I want to open a file in the second window I need to do it via Open.



Is there anyway of fixing this?

Thanks,

Emmy

When you open a xls-file in explorer both excel windows are inactive, so what do you mean?

Hi Kaktussoft,

Thanks for taking the time to help me.

Yes, you are indeed correct. I guess what I mean is the last active Excel window.

Do you understand what I mean?

Thanks,

Emmy

I just tested it in excel and word (both office 2007 so not 2010)
In WORD every document has it's own window, so no problem

Everytime you start excel by clicking excel icon for example ... it creates a excel window where you can open more xls-files in one window if you wish.

When doubleclicking a xls-file it attaches to some excel window as you stated (probably the first window created?), afaik there's not an option to change that.

Why's that a problem? Try dragging and drop the file in the right window. Is that a good workaround?

Thanks Kaktussoft. I guess it's not a problem per say - it's just a little irritating that it doesn't behave as it used to. Your suggestion is a good work around so maybe I'll just start doing that from now on. A shame it can't be changed back to how things used to behave.

Thanks again for your help.

If anyone else has any other suggestions please let me know.

I've just thought of another reason why this is a problem/irritation for me. I use a program which has an export to Excel function. This used to open the spreadsheet in the last active Excel window whereas now it opens in the first active window. This is annoying as I need to close it in the other window and then open it again using Kaktussoft's suggestion. If anyone has found a way of solving this issue I would be grateful.

Thanks again.

Hi,

I recently started using Windows 7 because the company I work for is switching to it from windows XP. I have this same problem, and it is very annoying. I have 2 monitors and I often need to compare sheets, may of which are in attachments in emails. Under Windows XP I just opened a new workbook and then opened the attached sheet, and it would open in the last created workbook. Now it opens in the first workbook. So I'll have to save each attachment first and then open it with 'file>open' from a new workbook in order to be able to compare the 2 next to eachother.

I hope this gets fixed, because it is a change from XP that makes 7 less user friendly.

when i am using excel suddenly it gets stuck and some cells get light blue in colour and then i cat type and the whole keyboard get stuck and he pc becomes weird

and when i minimize the excel sheet i try to open MS word it says to me that my ctrl key is hanged or pressed and it says do u want to use microsoft word in safe mode

and i have to restart my pc again always when ever it happens

and i do not click or use the ctrl key

i do not know what is wrong please i need some help

it is really stressing me
and by the way it is a new laptop

I think yor CTRL key has problems! puch it multiple times, maybe it helps. There are multiple CTRL-keys so try them all.

Take another keyboard. Does that solve the problem? Just test it

to test if CTRL is hanging:
click on some icon on desktop. Press c, then press v
if ctrl is hanging it performs ctrl-c ctrl-v so copy paste. Does a new file appear on desktop?