Prosystem fx Engagement Version 4.0.100.1060¹ by default launches multiple instances of Microsoft Excel when you open new work-papers. This is done to support dual computer monitor setups. To disable this feature on your computer (engagement binders and other Engagement users will not be affected) follow the steps below.

1. Open the ProSystem fx Engagement File Room (you should be out of all binders)
2. Select TOOLS from the menu
3. Select OPTIONS (this will launch another window)
4. Select the DATA tab
5. In the field that reads: “Local File room location:” select the entire path, right click, and select COPY.
6. Click the CANCEL button to close the dialog box
7. Close Engagement
8. Right click on the START button in Windows, and select EXPLORE (the Windows file explorer will launch)
9. In the address field, paste the path that was copied in Step 5 above, and press ENTER.
10. Right click on a file called “engage.opt” (you may not see the .opt extension), select OPEN, and open with the Notepad application.
11. In the engage.opt file now opened in Notepad, CRTL+F to launch the Find tool.
12. In the Find What field, type in “separate_excel_launch” (without the quotes).
13. The Find tool will highlight text string that you need to edit. The entire text string should currently read: <SEPARATE_EXCEL_LAUNCH Selected="true"/>
14. Change the text string to read: <SEPARATE_EXCEL_LAUNCH Selected="false"/>
15. Select FILE from the menu
16. Select SAVE.

¹ For the uninitiated, Engagement is a paperless document management/work-flow system used primarily by financial statement auditors to manage their audits. This tip will be relevant to a very small number of Microsoft Excel users, but if you use Engagement, it’ll save you a technical support call.

DISCLAIMER: Becareful of what you do, this could mess up the application. You should make a backup copy of the engage.opt file.