Open a File in a Separate Instance of Excel from Explorer

[Maryz]

I know that I can open a file in a new instance of Excel using VBA from a source file:

Public appxl As Application
Sub OpenAnotherInstanceXL()
Set appxl = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
With appxl
.Workbooks.Open ThisWorkbook.Path & "\" & "OpenMe.xls"
.Visible = True
End With
End Sub

What I’d like to know is if it is possible to have a file open in a new instance of Excel when selected from Windows Explorer while my source file is open. What I’d like to accomplish is to have my source file always be the only file open in its own instance. Is there any way to accomplish this?

 

[RalphA]

Re: Open a File in a Separate Instance of Excel from Explore

Try this: With one Excel file open in Excel, open another Excel, then, with the new Excel highlighted (selected), open the new file. You will now have two Excel programs open, each with its own file.

You can continue to open new Excel programs and new Excel files. Just select the one to work on, and take it from there.

 

[Maryz]

Re: Open a File in a Separate Instance of Excel from Explore

Ralph,

What you are describing is a manual procedure. What I am looking for is an automated procedure using VBA. For example, MyFile.xls is opened on my desktop and I go to open NewFile.xls from Windows Explorer and NewFile.xls is opened in a new different instance of Excel than MyFile.xls. If there were two instances of Excel opened at once, I’d need the second instance to have the focus each time somebody tried to open a file through Explorer.