Windows – Microsoft Office 2010 Excel will not open two xls

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I am using Windows 7 and Windows 8 and I see the following behavior with Microsoft Office 2010.

Create two Excel files, say a.xls and b.xls

Open a.xls by double clicking it.

After the file is opened in Office 2010 Excel, modify this file and do not save.

Try opening b.xls. by double clicking on it.

b.xls never opens.

This behavior only happens on Windows for excel files on 2010.

It works fine with any other type of files (.doc, .docx, .ppt etc). It also works fine on Office 2011 and Office 2013.

Is there a workaround for this? Any patch etc?

Highly appreciate any insights.

Thanks!

Best Answer

This a minor Microsoft Office Excel 2010 and Excel 2013 bug.

The second XLS file is waiting for the first XLSX file to exit out of cell editing. Once you hit enter and leave cell editing mode, the second XLSX file opens.

There is no fix as far as I know since it existed in Office 2010 Excel and continues to exist in Office 2013 Excel. There's another discussion about not being able to open a second Excel spreadsheet here as well. Same conclusion.

You just have to press Enter (to leave cell editing mode) before you open the second Excel spreadsheet.

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