Microsoft KB Archive/91632

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XL: Using Startup Switches with Excel for Windows 4.0, 5.0

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0

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SUMMARY
The following is a list of special command-line startup switches that you can use in Microsoft Excel for Windows to customize the initial startup configuration of Microsoft Excel. For example, you can use these switches to start Microsoft Excel without opening a new worksheet.

Microsoft Excel Version 4.0 and 5.0 Startup Switches

 * The /r switch allows you to open a specific file as read only.

Example: EXCEL.EXE /r c:\EXCEL\SALES.XLS
 * The /p switch allows you to specify a different default directory.

Example: EXCEL.EXE /p c:\EXCEL\EXAMPLES
 * The /e switch prevents Microsoft Excel from creating a new worksheet (sheet1) on startup.

Example: EXCEL.EXE /e

Note: These switches do not work on the Run= or Load= lines in your WIN.INI file.

To Use Startup Switches with Your Microsoft Excel Icon

 * 1) In the Microsoft Windows Program Manager, select the Microsoft Excel icon.
 * 2) From the File menu in the Microsoft Windows Program Manager, choose Properties.
 * 3) In the Program Item Properties dialog box, in the Command Line box type the startup switches you want to use.

Note: See the examples above for details on where to place the switches on the command line.
 * 1) Choose the OK button.

The next time you run Microsoft Excel, it will use the this new startup configuration.

To Use Startup Switches in the Run Dialog Box
Using the switches this way only affects an individual session with Microsoft Excel. The next time you start Microsoft Excel, it will use the default configuration (or any configuration you set using switches on the icon command line or in other startup documents).


 * 1) In Windows Program Manager or in File Manager, choose Run from the File menu.
 * 2) In the Run dialog box, type the Microsoft Excel startup command in the Command Line box.

The command you enter must include EXCEL.EXE. You can use as many of the startup switches as you want. See the examples above for details on how to enter the correct command line.
 * 1) Choose the OK button to run Excel with your specified startup configuration.

You can combine these switches by entering several of them in the command line for your Microsoft Excel icon.

For example, to start Microsoft Excel without Sheet1 AND start it with the default directory set to the EXAMPLES subdirectory in your EXCEL directory, you would type the following:

  EXCEL.EXE /e /p c:\EXCEL\EXAMPLES