How to open excel files in multiple windows

One of my biggest pet peeves in Microsoft Office is that Microsoft Excel doesn't allow you to open spreadsheets in multiple windows, so you have to revert to switching back and forth between windows if you are trying to compare two documents.  What a PITA!!  Thankfully, I found this fix on the 'net--just a few minor registry tweaks:

Start - Run - regedit:


Navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/command:
Changes:
Double Click on (Default) and add "%1" to the end of the string - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
Right Click on "command" – choose "rename" and add something to the name  - for example 2 (command2).

Navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/ddeexec:
Changes:
Right Click on the folder ddeexec and choose "rename" and add something to the name  - for example 2 (ddeexec2)

Navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.12/shell/Open/command:
Changes:
Double Click on (Default) and add "%1" to the end of the string - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
Right Click on "command"– choose "rename" and add something to the name  - for example 2 (command2).

 No restart required for the changes to take effect.  Enjoy!!

Skype Group Video Is Unreliable

As the Technology Manager for Parker Executive Search, a retained executive search firm, I am constantly looking for ways to improve our efficiency and functionality. We have been using Skype increasingly, as it saves a bundle on travel costs and you can video chat with multiple people all over the country (and the world) in a single day.

We signed up for Skype Premium, the business version, in order to use group video chat. We envisioned connecting people from multiple locations--either a board, or a search committee--on a single call where we could orchestrate a meeting. The potential opportunity was great and we were very excited.

Enter reality. Skype one-on-one has been pretty well tested and established and we had few problems. Group Video, on the other hand, is the buggiest piece of software I have used in some time. Granted, introducing multiple live streams presents obvious problems and more room for error, but I have had only one call thus far that worked flawlessly with 3 or more connections. I can't tell you how many times I have seen the message "Group video is unavailable at the moment." I just wish Skype would make sure a product is solid and flawless before putting it out on the market.

All in all, I would be very wary of signing up for Skype Premium with the intent of group video for business. It reflects poorly when the video is constantly being dropped. I think we will have to ditch Skype for a better solution or wait until the bugs are improved.