XL97: Startup Switches for Microsoft Excel 97

ID: Q159474

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel 97 accepts a number of optional switches that you can use to control how Microsoft Excel starts. This article lists the switches and provides a description of each switch.


MORE INFORMATION

Editing the Microsoft Excel Shortcut to Use the Switches

To use these switches, you can edit shortcut you use to start Microsoft Excel. To do this, use the following steps:
  1. Right-click Start on the taskbar. Click Open on the shortcut menu that appears.


  2. Double-click Programs. Then, right-click the shortcut for Microsoft Excel and click Properties.


  3. Click the Shortcut tab.


  4. In the Target box, type the appropriate switches. For example, if you want Microsoft Excel 97 to start without creating a new workbook, the target would look something like this:
    "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /e


  5. Click OK.


Using a Command Line to Use One Switch at a Time

To use one switch one time, use the following steps:
  1. Click Run on the Start menu.


  2. Type the path to Excel.exe, and add the appropriate switches. For example, use the following command line:
    "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /s


  3. Click OK after you type the switch you want to use.


The following table, lists the switches. Note that switches are not case sensitive: /O is the same as /o. Note also that, in some cases, you can use more than one switch at a time. If you do this, you must separate the switches by spaces. 

   Switch          Function
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------

   /automation     Forces Microsoft Excel 97 to start without loading
                   add-ins, templates, or processing files in the XLSTART
                   folder or the Alternate Startup File Location. You can
                   use this switch to perform a "clean-boot" of Microsoft
                   Excel 97. (See also the /s switch, shown below.)

                   Example: /automation
 

   /e,             Forces Microsoft Excel to start in embedded mode. Use
   /embedded       this switch when you want to start Microsoft Excel
                   without creating a new workbook (Book1).

                   Example: /e, /embedded
 

   /i              Forces Microsoft Excel to start with a maximized window.
                   Previously saved window size settings are ignored.

                   Example: /i


   /m              Forces Microsoft Excel to create a new workbook that
                   contains a single Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheet.

                   Example: /m

   /o              Causes Microsoft Excel to re-register itself.
                   Specifically, the following key is rewritten in the
                   registry:

                     HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel

                   NOTE: If this key contains invalid values, they are
                   not corrected by using this switch. This switch only
                   replaces missing values.

                   Example: /o

  /p <folder>      Sets the active path to a different folder. Use this
                   switch to set the active path to a folder other than the
                   default file location.

                   Example: /p "C:\Windows"

   /r <filename>   Forces Microsoft Excel to open the specified file in
                   read-only mode.

                   Example: /r "C:\My Documents\Test.xls"

   /s              Forces Microsoft Excel to bypass all files in the 
                   Xlstart and Alternate Startup Files folders. Use this 
                   switch when you want to start Microsoft Excel in Safe                      mode.

                   Example: /s 

   /regserver      Forces Microsoft Excel to register itself and then quit.
                   Use this switch when you want Microsoft Excel 97 to
                   rewrite all of its registry keys and reassociate itself
                   with Microsoft Excel files, such as workbooks, charts,
                   and add-ins.

                   Example: /regserver


   /unregserver    Forces Microsoft Excel to unregister itself and then
                   quit.

                   Example: /unregserver

Additional query words: XL97 start up startup 


Keywords          : kbualink97 xlui 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: July 8, 1999