Problem launching Excel from command line

rmg1

Hi all

I need to be able to schedule a task to launch Microsoft Excel using a batch file which is attached to a scheduled task.
I also need it to enable macros as our system policy won't allow macros security to be set on "low" (and i's not recommended anyway).
Enabling macros will allow the spreadsheet to update links, publish and exit on its own (I've got that bit working), I just need the batch file command to automate the whole think from start to finish.
I can't leave the Excel file open all the time and use the "Application.Ontime" command as the server closes all the files down overnight to prevent problems.
Anyone any ideas?

espresso

Experiment with the following batch file lines:

to open excel

start /d "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office" EXCEL.EXE

or to open an excel file

start /d C:\finance\spreadsheets budget.xls

geewhiz

You can't enable macros automatically as that would mean any virus could do the same.

Have a look at this document, you might get round this by digitally signing it especially if it's only running on the one machine.

Dime_Bar

The comman you need to run in the batch file to open Excel with the workbook is

excel.exe "c:\pathtothefile\workbookname.xlsm"

This will open the file but as you will see the file will still have macros disallowed. I don't belive there is a command line switch to change this, however the defualt setting of Disable all macros with notification will not apply to digitally signed projects that are from trusted publishers.

To get your self a digital certificate here are the instructions

Once you have done this sign your VBA project by going to the Visual Bassic window and Tools>Digital Signiture and selecting the one you have just set up.

You then need to go to excel and open the file you will get the usual warning but with the option to add the publisher to the trusted publishers. Select this and you should be able to open the file from the above command line with the macros automatically enabled.

Hope that makes sense

rmg1

Thanks guys.
Should have remembered about digital signatures as I've used them before (doh!)