What exactly does the option "Make instance visible" do in "Launch Excel"?

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Posted on by Mdarkx

Hello,

I'm having a weird issue with Excel. Perhaps it's just me misunderstand the option, but I figured I would ask.

If I have the option off PAD hides the sheet I'm automating. So when the flow has run, and I open the worbook, its completely grey and sheet is hidden (see photo below for reference)

If I have the option on there is no issues at all. Sheet is not hidden when I open the workbook afterwards.

I thought the option was wether or not I would show Excel during the automation, but did i misunderstand that?

Looking forward to any answers.

Kind regards.

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Power Automate Desktop

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SA_VOH 231 on at

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Hi,
The "Make instance visible" will make the Excel file you are trying to open , visible to you.
The problem of getting blanked sheet was resolved in my case, was first launch the excel , do some work, then save it and then close it.
Please note that saving and closing is required to be done in 2 separate steps not one.

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Mdarkx 10 on at

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Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I tried saving and closing in seperate steps - still the same issue.

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VJR 7,635 on at

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Check out some options

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbkZSPe0_wY

- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/excel/excel-opens-blank

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Mdarkx 10 on at

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Hi,

Thanks for the links. It's not really an Excel issue, but an issue with PAD.

For some reason PAD hides the sheet if "Make instance visible" is set to off. No issues if the option is set to on.

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Mdarkx 10 on at

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Anyone else got something I could try to solve this issue?

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AS-06081019-0 1,738 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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My guess is that you're in Page Break view. Activate the View tab of the ribbon and click the first button: Normal.

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liuliucai 4 on at

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my some problem。do u solve?

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lemonroti 3 on at

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Do u have the solution ? I also facing the same problem

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Mdarkx 10 on at

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To anyone finding this thread. I sadly never found a solution. Still facing this issue. Switched to UiPath instead and no issues here.

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MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

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My guess would be the "Make Instance Visible = False" is a "Hide Workbook" setting within Excel and PAD doesn't correct this when it is done. So, at the very end of the flow, I would add:

Launch Excel with Make Instance Visible = True

Save and Close Excel

This should turn that option back on and then it won't be grayed out when you open it in the future.

Good luck!

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