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Clicking 'Controller Link' (X) button always launches Excel with 'automatic' calculation mode enabled

Troubleshooting


Problem

Customer would like Excel's calculation mode to be set to 'manual' (not 'automatic') when XLSX spreadsheet filess (for example reports) are opened. There are two different ways to achieve this: (a) Modify each and every XLSX file (individially) to change their calculation more to 'manual' (b) Modify Excel so that it automatically opens all new XLSX files in 'manual' mode. Customer has chosen method (b). They have implemented this by copying a file (for example called 'Book.xlsx') inside the user's XLSTART folder - For more details on how this is done, see section 'Environment' (later). After doing the above, user finds that whenever they open an XLSX file directly (by double-clicking on the file inside Windows Explorer) then it opens with 'Manual' calculation mode enabled (wich is good = the customer's desired behaviour). ===================================== However, the user then tries the following (different) scenario: 1. User makes sure that Excel is closed (not running in the background) 2. User launches the 'main' Controller client (CCR.EXE). 3. User clicks the 'X' button (to launch Excel / Controller Link). - Excel appears on the screen. 4. User checks to see the setting for 'Workbook Calculation' (also known as 'Calculation Options'. It is set to 'automatic' (which is not the desired setting). => Why does opening Excel from within Controller (via the 'X' button) always enable 'automatic' calculation mode?

Symptom

For both scenarios (described below):

  • Excel has been configured as described inside "Environment" section (see later)
  • The XLSX report used is set to use 'automatic' calculation.

===============================

Imagine a scenario where:

  • Excel is initially closed (not running), before starting
  • User launches Excel from the 'Start' menu
  • User then opens an XLSX file

In this scenario, user finds that the calculation mode has changed to 'manual' (as desired):

================================

However, imagine a different scenario, where:

  • Excel is initially closed (not running), before starting
  • The user switches to the 'main' Controller client, and clicks on the 'X' button:
  • User then opens an XLSX file

In this scenario, user finds that the XLSX Excel report has opened with 'automatic' calculation enabled (not desired):



This can also be seen if the user clicks on 'Formulas' menu, and looks at the setting for "Calculation Options":


========================================

=> Question - Why is the calculation mode different, depending on how Excel was launched?

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Document Information

Modified date:
09 May 2025

UID

swg22014934

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