Jim Cone wrote:
Bill,
More than you wanted to know...

Jim Cone December 2002
Modified June 11, 2003
Note - These recommendations were written before XL2003 was released.

When installing / using multiple versions of MS suites or applications:
1. Install the oldest version first
2. Install in a separate folder.
3. If you want to keep your start menu shortcuts then rename them
before installing a newer version.
4. Do a custom install and do not overwrite/replace the older
versions. However...
5. Only one version of Outlook can be installed on a single
operating system.
6. You specify the default version of the application by
registering it using 'Start | Run'.
Enter the full file path and name of the program.
Note that /regserver is outside the quote marks...

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /regserver

The above registers Excel 97 as the default on most systems.
Change the file path / file name as appropriate.
If you don't register the application then the last version
installed becomes the default.
7. Do Not run multiple application versions at the same time.
Close one before opening the other.
8. MS knowledge base articles follow in no particular order:
292491 -
Office Automation When Multiple Versions of Office Are Installed
290576 -
OffXP: Running Multiple Versions of Microsoft Office
218861 -
Off2000: Running Multiple Versions of Microsoft Office
214388 -
XL2000: Running Multiple Versions of Microsoft Excel
292584 -
OffXP: Setup Overwrites Start Menu Items from Earlier Versions of office
210391 -
Off2000: Setup May Remove Older Components

(Just in case)
233499 -
How To Change the Company Name and User Name After Setup
290528 -
HowTo: Change the Company Name and User Name in an Office XP Program
280546:
User Name And Company Name In Splash Screen Different From Names In "About" Dialog Box


"Bill Martin"
wrote in message

Thanks for the into Jim. Now for bonus points...
Reading between the lines, it sounds like one can happily install both XL97 and
a more current version under XP and they coexist -- the newer one doesn't update
(over write) the old one. Did you have to do something clever to do this or is
that how Excel installs itself normally?
Thanks...
Bill
=======================

Thanks Jim. I may finally break down and update my Excel.

Bill