NOT switching focus between two instances of excel

[Meg_excelQs]

Goal:
- open an instance of excel from a different program and send/retrieve data to a workbook from this open session of excel without the user being able to see excel/know it's running
- allow user to work in another instance of excel while the other program is accessing 1st instance of excel without changing user focus back and forth between two instances of excel

I am an engineer providing engineering support for a software development project and am being told by IT this is not achievable. Solution needs to run across different excel versions. Also being told MS Surface excel is actually not fully compatible, behaves differently. So remember, I am not an IT expert - so appreciate any help!

 

[Norie]

I'm not sure I follow, if you have 2 separate instances of Excel that aren't interacting with each other how can focus shift between them unless done manually or with code.

 

[Meg_excelQs]

correct - the concern is the program is churning along using an excel tool (preferably hidden from user) and if the user manually clicks on an open 2nd instance of excel to do different work - focus switches to 2nd instance and messes up program calling first instance of excel. did that help or add confusion?

 

[Norie]

Couldn't the instance you don't want the user to interfere with be hidden?