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1.7. Which Version of Excel Is Opened by Palisade Software?

Applies to:
@RISK For Excel 4.5–7.x
BigPicture 1.x(7.x)
Evolver 4.0–7.x
NeuralTools 1.0–7.x
PrecisionTree 1.0–7.x
RISKOptimizer 1.0, 5.x
StatTools 1.1–7.x
TopRank 5.0–7.x

I have multiple versions of Excel on my computer. @RISK (PrecisionTree, StatTools, ...) opens one version of Excel, but I want it to open the other version.

Or,

My Excel was recently upgraded and now when I launch @RISK it can't start Excel.

The simplest solution is to open Excel and then launch the Palisade software. If @RISK (PrecisionTree, StatTools, ...) finds a copy of Excel running, it will attach itself to that copy.

If you want a more permanent solution that will cause your Palisade software to open your desired copy of Excel, you can make an edit to the System Registry, as follows:

  1. Close Excel if it's running. Locate the "Excel.exe" file and take note of the full file path. Caution: you need the full path, including the program name and ".exe" extension. Some examples are
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\OFFICE14\Excel.exe and
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\Excel.exe

  2. To open the Registry Editor, click the Windows Start button, then Run. Type REGEDIT and click the OK button.

  3. When the Registry Editor window appears, navigate to
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Palisade
    in the left-hand pane, or if you have 64-bit Windows then navigate to
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\Palisade
    In the right-hand pane, you will see two string values called Main Directory and System Directory, and possibly some additional values.

  4. If Excel Path appears in the right-hand pane, double-click it and edit the path to match the path you noted in step 1.

  5. If Excel Path does not appear in the right-hand pane, right-click in the right-hand pane and select New » String Value. Name the new string value Excel Path, with a space between the two words. Double-click the name Excel Path and edit in the path that you saved in Step 1.

  6. Test your edit by launching the Palisade software when no version of Excel is running. If the correct Excel does not come up, edit the value of the Excel Path string. If the correct Excel comes up, close the Registry Editor by clicking File » Exit.

Reminder: This Registry setting is used only when you launch our software while Excel is not running. If Excel is already running and you click a shortcut or icon for our software, it will attach itself to the running copy of Excel, regardless of version.

Last edited: 2017-12-21

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