Radenkovich’s P(a)lace

You can open Excel and within Excel you can open XLS files, but not with double click on XLS file in windows explore. This is not a solution for the issue above, it’s bypass with some side effects. You have to disable DDE for selected file type and to pass XLS filename to Excel as parameter. Side effect is with each doubleclick on XLS file you will start new instance of Excel but using existing one. This will affect windows ability to group similar buttons on taskbar.

Follow the steps bellow:

• open windows explorer
• go to menu: Tools/Folder Options…
• on tab File Types search for XLS extensions on Registered file types section and click on Advanced (you may have to repeat steps bellow for other Excel file types like CSV…)
• on dialog Edit File Type select Open in Actions, then click Edit… Picture bellow show settings before and after changes you have to made in order to disable DDE.

And you have to add “%1″ at the end of text field Application used to perform action:

More resources on this topic:

• Fixing Startup problems
• Opening Excel Files From Windows Explorer