Sometimes one of these works:

Tools|Options|General|Ignore other applications (uncheck it)

--- or ---

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets the windows registry to excel's
factory defaults.

widman wrote:

I have Excel 202 and with a dozen or two open programs sometimes forget I
have excel open and press the Excel icon on my taskbar. If it was Word it
would open a new file for me to start writing, but Excel opens a new window,
tells me it is in use and can open as read only. I have to tell it to
cancel, at which time it continues to open. Then I have to close it and
click on the file I have open.
HOW can I either get Excel to behave like Word or get it to not even bother
opening like that.

--

Dave Peterson