How to open a specific excel file with a batch script and command line arguments?

Question

I designed an excel spreadsheet that takes data from a server using an RTD feed and processes it. I want the excel file to open automatically during the computers startup. The way that I have decided to go about doing this is to write a batch script that opens the excel file and to then put that batch script in the computers startup folder.

The problem I am running into relates to the batch script. The RTD feed does not work if I use the default shortcut for excel. Instead I have to use a shortcut that has the following target line:

 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE" /a "CompanyExcelAddin.CompanyFunctions"

I am able to open the file using this command line

start `"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE" "C:\...\filename.xlsm"`

but I am not able to open a file using the following bash command

start "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE" /a "CompanyExcelAddin.CompanyFunctions" "C:\...\filename.xlsm"

If I open it using the first batch script the RTD feed doesn't work. If I try to run the second script the batch script doesn't run.

How do I write a batch script that takes command line arguments for the startup program?

Batch scripts and bash scripts are different animals, powershell even moreso. Please edit your 'question' by removing the non necessary tags and changing what is a broad/generic question to something more specific. As you currently have it, it looks like you are requesting a free solution using any method which is both rude and technically off topic. — Compo, Aug 01 '17 at 16:34
Put an empty pair of quotes before any path components, like `start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\...\EXCEL.EXE" /a ...`, because `start` often interprets the first quoted string as a window title... — aschipfl, Aug 01 '17 at 17:47

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 01 '17 at 20:02

10

@echo off
set params=%*
start excel "MyWorkbook.xlsm" /e/%params%

Let's suppose you named it "MyBatch.bat", then you call it like this:

MyBatch.bat Hello/World1

Use space " " to separate parameters. Use slash "/" instead of space for parameters with spaces.

In case you do not like the string I believe you can also do this (in a *.bat file):
start excel "MyWorkbook.xlsm" /e/%param1%/%param2%/%param3%.....

In case you need to open several Excel instances:

@echo off
set params=%*
for %%C in (%params%) do (
    start excel "MyWorkbook.xlsm" /e/%%C
)

answered Aug 01 '17 at 20:02

Sergio Muriel

1,039
9
15

How can I open a protected sheet/workbook from this same batch script ? Is it just a matter of passing another parameter or a whole different story ? – Vicky Dev Dec 18 '21 at 22:07
[Excel VBA - Automatically Input Password](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11326986/excel-vba-automatically-input-password) – Sergio Muriel Dec 20 '21 at 00:07

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 01 '17 at 16:23

First, I'd recommend using a scheduled task over the startup folder (consistent behavior). Trigger on login, or however you need it, and execute powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoProfile -File 'thing.ps1'. It looks like you may be passing the arguments out of order for the Excel exe.

$EXE = "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE"
& $EXE 'C:\...\filename.xlsm' /a 'CompanyExcelAddin.CompanyFunctions'

How to open a specific excel file with a batch script and command line arguments?

2 Answers2