Problem with Multiple Excel Instances

[bigskyhp]

I've developed an Excel 2003 application where the interface (both input and output) is performed exclusively through userForms. Some of my users (not all) generate input data with another Excel workbook. To ease data entry these users would like to toggle between their worksheets and my userForms to cut and paste data. However, I've encountered a sequencing problem. If the user initiates my application first (which automatically opens a userForm) and then opens their worksheet two instances of Excel are created and they can toggle between the two instances. If the activation order is reversed (the user workbook is opened first and then my form-based application is opened) the user is stuck in the opened useForm and cannot toggle to their workbook. Any hints or suggestions?

 

[JimM]

When they toggle do they use

Alt + Tab
or
Ctrl + F6

Whichever one they use does the other work?

 

[bigskyhp]

The "Ctrl + F6" does not work.

The "Alt + Tab" pops up an icon box which shows a large Excel icon pointing to the open userForm, an Excel Spreadsheet icon pointing to my application's workbook, and a secon Excel Spreadsheed icon pointing to the user's workbook. However, the user remains locked in the userForm regardless of which icon is selected.

 

[jim may]

How about making the Userform Modeless?

 

[bigskyhp]

No. The modeless approach did not work. I still get stuck in the userform in cases where an Excel Workbook is already opened before my application is initiated. I don't encounter this problem if a second instance of Excel is activated while my form is running.

Perhaps the windows application bar (the running icons shown at the bottom of the screen) provides a clue. I see the following for these different sequences:

First Case: Excel running before my application initiated.

1) Step 1 - Initiate Excel. Icon titled Book 1 appears in application bar.
2) Step 2 - Initiate my Excel Application. UserForm appears on screen. Icon titled Book 1 disappears and Icon with "My App Name" appears on the application bar.

Second Case: My application initiated and then second instance of Excel implemented.

1) Step 1 - Initiate my Excell Application. UserForm appears on screen. Icon titled "My App Name" appears on the application bar.
2) Step 2 - Initiate new Excel instance. A second icon titled "Book1" appears along with the icon "My App Name" on the application bar.