# Need help with Excel Issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-excel-issue/979915 "2023-02-16T20:37:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 6
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-excel-issue/979915/6 "2023-02-17T00:42:40Z")
Old thread, might be helpful > [@Start Excel 2013 Minimized from a Command Window](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-excel-2013-minimized-from-a-command-window/820048): > > Hello! I have some automated processes that use an Excel auto\_open sub to kickstart various things. Excel is called from a batch file triggered by a Task from the Task Scheduler. Since auto\_open can be a pain (I don’t want it to run every time the spreadsheet is opened, only when triggered by the batch file), I have it first check whether Excel is minimized, and if so, run whatever it’s supposed to do. I do this with this command from a command window (or, technically, a batch file): start … --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-excel-issue/979915)._