XL: Running Multiple Versions of Microsoft Excel for Macintosh

ID: Q182702

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Although Microsoft does not recommend installing more than one version of Microsoft Excel on a computer, it is possible to install and use more than one version on the same computer. This article describes some problems that you may encounter when you install more than one version of Excel on a computer.

MORE INFORMATION

This article lists some of the common problems that are associated with running multiple versions of Excel. However, you may encounter problems that are not listed in this article.

In most cases, the only solution to problems created by running multiple versions of Excel is to run only one version of Excel on your computer.

Double-Clicking Files in Finder Starts Earlier Version of Excel

When you double-click a Microsoft Excel workbook, chart, or add-in file in the Finder, the wrong version of Excel may be started, and the file is not opened. For example, double-clicking an workbook saved in the Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition file format starts Excel version 5.0.

This problem occurs because the installation program for Excel 5.0 sets the modified date of the program file for Excel 5.0 to the date of installation. If this date is later than the modified date of the program file for Excel 98, Excel 5.0 is started when you use the Finder to double- click an Excel workbook file.

To reduce the probability that this problem occurs, install Excel 98 and Excel 5.0 on separate hard disk partitions. If you keep Excel 98 files on the hard disk partition that contains Excel 98, this problem should not occur.

NOTE: This workaround may not work in all cases.

Inserting Microsoft Excel Objects into Other Programs

If you install multiple versions of Microsoft Excel on a single computer and you insert a Microsoft Excel Worksheet object into another program (for example, Microsoft Word), the latest version of Microsoft Excel is used when you insert the worksheet object.

For example, if you install the following programs on your computer 

   Microsoft Word for Macintosh, version 6.0
   Microsoft Excel for Macintosh, version 5.0
   Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
and then insert a Microsoft Excel Worksheet object into a Microsoft Word document, an Excel 98 worksheet is added.

If you give a copy of a Word document containing a Microsoft Excel Worksheet object to someone who does not have Excel 98, and the person attempts to activate the object, the following error message appears: 

   Word cannot edit the Excel.Sheet.8.
NOTE: When you click Object on the Insert menu in Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint, the following entries may appear in the Object type list: 

   Microsoft Excel 5.0 Chart
   Microsoft Excel 5.0 Worksheet
   Microsoft Excel Chart
   Microsoft Excel Worksheet
An Excel 98 worksheet or chart object is inserted into the document regardless of the list entry that you click.

Using Automation to Control Microsoft Excel

If you install multiple versions of Microsoft Excel on a computer and you attempt to use Automation to control a specific version of Microsoft Excel, it may be necessary to modify your Visual Basic for Applications code.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/supportnet/refguide/
For example, if you run the following Visual Basic for Applications macro in Microsoft Word 97 while Excel 5.0 and Excel 98 are installed on your computer 

   Sub AutomationTest()

      Dim xlApp As Object
      Set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
      MsgBox xlApp.Version
      xlApp.Quit
      Set xlApp = Nothing

   End Sub
you receive the following error message: 

   Run-time error '429':
   ActiveX xomponent can't create object
To work around this problem, change the Set line to the following: 

   Set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application.8")
The macro starts an instance of Excel 98, displays the version number of Excel, then terminates Excel.

NOTE: You cannot use Automation to start Excel 5.0 if Excel 98 is installed on your computer.

Shared Programs

The Object dialog box may display more than one entry for each shared program; this behavior occurs because there may be multiple versions of the shared program on your computer.

Problems Using Microsoft Query

If both Microsoft Query version 1.0 and Microsoft Query version 8.0 are installed on your computer, you receive error messages when you use Microsoft Query 8.0. To use Microsoft Query 8.0, you must remove Microsoft Query 1.0 from your computer.

For additional information about this problem, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q177348
   TITLE     : XL98: "Command Cancelled" or Query Error Creating New Query
Additional query words: XL98 
Keywords          : kbdta xlloadsave xlquery xlmac kbfaq
Version           : MACINTOSH:5.0,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999