XL: New Workbooks Open Repeatedly Starting Excel

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Excel, new workbooks may open repeatedly until Microsoft Excel runs out of memory.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the file Msexcel4.xlm, installed by WinFax Pro version 4.0, is located in your Xlstart folder. This file is installed by WinFax Pro along with the file Msexcel5.xls so that you can fax worksheets directly from within Microsoft Excel.

Normally, when you install Microsoft Excel 7.0, the Setup program removes these files if they are located in your Xlstart folder. However, the Microsoft Excel Setup program does not remove these files under the following conditions:

   If you install Microsoft Excel 5.0, and then install WinFax Pro,
   and then install Microsoft Office Preview Program (whether you remove
   the Office Preview Program or not), the Microsoft Excel 7.0 Setup
   program does not remove the files from your Xlstart folder.

   -or-

   If you install Microsoft Excel 5.0, and then install WinFax Pro,
   and then remove Microsoft Excel 5.0, the Microsoft Excel 7.0 Setup
   program does not remove the WinFax files from your Xlstart folder.

   -or-

   If you install WinFax Pro after installing Microsoft Excel 97, the
   Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office Setup program does not remove the
   WinFax files from your Xlstart folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, remove both the Msexcel4.xlm and Msexcel5.xls files from the Xlstart folder.

Note that if you experience this problem, you will have a large number of workbooks open in Microsoft Excel. When you close Microsoft Excel, you can avoid being prompted to save the changes in these workbooks by running the following Visual Basic for Applications macro:

   Sub MyExit()
       Application.DisplayAlerts = False
       Application.Quit
   End Sub

STATUS

This problem occurs when you use Microsoft Excel version 7.0 for Windows 95 and WinFax Pro version 4.0. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office versions 7.0a and 7.0b for Windows 95.

This problem also occurs when you use Microsoft Excel 97 if you place the WinFax files in the Xlstart folder after you install Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

The macros contained in the WinFax Pro files Msexcel4.xlm and Msexcel5.xls are not compatible with Microsoft Excel version 7.0 or Microsoft Excel 97.

The problem described above also occurs if you open the Msexcel4.xlm file in Microsoft Excel, even if the file is not located in the Xlstart folder. The Msexcel5.xls file does not affect Microsoft Excel 7.0; however, it will not work in Microsoft Excel 7.0 because it is designed for a 16-bit application.

WinFax Pro is manufactured by Delrina Technology, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

REFERENCES

Xlreadme.txt, Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0, Microsoft Excel folder