How do I have multiple workbook windows open in Excel 2003 whereby the
same instance of Excel is operating in two totally distinct windows
that can be moved about without a relation to a "main window".

To my knowledge, you can't. If you want two distinct windows, open a
second instance of Excel.

- Hammer

Hi, not sure, if this is what you are looking for because i too had a
similar problem.  Check this and see..

"To open two distinct windows that can be moved without a relation to
main window" - On the menu bar click on..
Windows > New Window
Windows > Arrange Tiled/Horizontal/Vertical/Cascade.

Now there will be two window and one window will be static and other
will be dynamic.

"To open two distinct windows that can be moved with a relation to
main window" - On the menu bar click on..
Windows > New Window
Windows > Compare side by Side.

In the first case.. you need to close the instances one by one. Work
books will open like.. Book1:1, Book1:2, Book1:3 etc. If you close
excel without closing all instances, then everytime you open the excel
work book all the instances will get opened.

Good luck.

To force every Excel file you open from explorer to use a unique
instance of Excel, I went into Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder
Options -> File Types -> XLS -> Advanced -> "Open" -> Edit.
I then changed "Application used to..." to be:
".........\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
(Add double quotes around %1, or files/dirs with spaces will fail to open)
Uncheck "Use DDE"  (it may come back with basic settings after you press OK)

Now each file I double-click on has its very own window, and I can
move them around independently, redize them, etc...

Brian