# MS Excel file close question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574 "2005-08-04T15:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/1 "2005-08-04T15:53:26Z")
Before I have a freakin’ stroke working with Excel can someone help me!?! If you have multipul windows of Excel open, and you wish to close one but not all, you can only use the lower “X” – if you use the Upper “X” in any window it closes all windows of Excel currently open. The reason this is such a pain in the ass is that MS Word works differently. YOu can use the upper “X” to close on a single instance of Word when you’ve got several open. Is there a setting I can change to get Excel to function like Word in this regard? If not I’d better order a few spare keyboards 'cause HULK SMASH!!! ARGH!!! Thanks -rainy ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/2 "2005-08-04T16:20:47Z")
To my knowledge, there is no way to set Excel up the way you’d like. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/3 "2005-08-04T17:06:01Z")
The way I have done this is to start excel up again for each one. For example - I click on one xls to open it. Then I go to my start button, go down to excel and start excel again and then in excel use “file - open” for the next file I want open. Know what I mean? Then you can dump the one or turn it off and the others stay open. Make sense? ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/4 "2005-08-04T18:53:41Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Make sense? Ah, that works. Cumbersome, but it works. I’ll train myself to do that. Thanks, Missy2U! -rainy ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/5 "2005-08-04T19:43:40Z")
another workaround: don’t use the mouse to close stuff. Alt+F4 = all excel windows. Ctrl+F4 = currently excel window. (this is universal throughout windows.) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/6 "2005-08-04T19:57:35Z")
Also: Alt+F; X = all Excel files Alt+F; C = current Excel file (I refuse to call a file, a “window.”) ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-excel-file-close-question/315574/7 "2005-08-04T21:09:32Z")
call it a ham sandwich, but if you set Tools - Options - View - “Windows in Taskbar” on, it’s a window.