XL2002: The /Automation Command-Line Switch Does Not Disable COM Add-in Programs

When you use the /automation command-line switch to start Excel, COM add-in programs load unexpectedly. (The /automation switch should disable all automatically opened files and auto-run macros.)

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Office XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The English version of this fix has the following file attributes or later: After the hotfix is installed, the following files will have the listed attributes or later:
After you install this fix, use the steps in the "How to Enable Hotfix by using the QFE_Jasper Registry Key" section of this article to set the QFE_Jasper registry key and to turn on the fix.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 2 (SP-2).

In Excel 2002, you can use the /automation switch to start Excel any of these ways:

1. To load no COM add-ins or standard add-ins.
2. To load only a specified add-in. To do this, list the ProgID of the COM add-in.
3. To load multiple COM add-ins. To do this, list the ProgID for each one.

Example:

The /automation switch can be combined with other existing command-line switches.

Example:

How to Turn On the Hotfix by Using the QFE_Jasper Registry Key

To turn on the product fix listed in this article enter the following registry key and value. To do so:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Quit Excel if Exel is running.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and then select the following registry key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel\Options\
5. Click the Edit menu, click New, and then click DWORD value.
6. Type the following name for the new value:
   QFE_Jasper
7. Press the Enter key.
8. Right-click the QFE_Jasper registry key, and then click Modify.
9. In the Value data box, type 1.
10. Click OK, and then quit Registry Editor.