How to use Application.ShowStartupDialog in the xlwings API way

The Application.ShowStartupDialog property in Excel’s object model controls whether the Excel startup screen (also known as the “Start” screen or backstage view) is displayed when Excel is launched. This screen typically appears when you open Excel without specifying a workbook, offering options to create a new workbook, open recent files, or browse for other files. In xlwings, you can access and manipulate this property through the App object, which represents the Excel application instance. This allows you to programmatically enable or disable the startup dialog based on your automation needs, such as suppressing it for seamless background operations or ensuring it appears for user interaction in custom applications.

Syntax in xlwings:
The property is accessed via the App object in xlwings. The syntax is straightforward:

app = xw.App() # Get the current or create a new Excel application instance
value = app.api.ShowStartupDialog # Get the current value
app.api.ShowStartupDialog = new_value # Set a new value

• app: An instance of the xlwings App class, representing the Excel application.
• app.api: Provides access to the underlying Excel object model (via pywin32 on Windows or appscript on macOS).
• ShowStartupDialog: A property that accepts Boolean values:
• True (or 1): Enables the startup dialog, so it will display when Excel starts.
• False (or 0): Disables the startup dialog, so Excel opens directly without showing the screen.

Example Usage:
Here are practical examples demonstrating how to use ShowStartupDialog with xlwings:

1. Check the Current Setting:
   This code retrieves the current state of the startup dialog and prints it.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.App(visible=True) # Ensure Excel is visible
current_setting = app.api.ShowStartupDialog
print(f"Startup dialog is currently enabled: {current_setting}")
app.quit() # Close the application

2. Disable the Startup Dialog:
   This example sets the property to False to hide the startup screen. It’s useful for automation scripts where you want Excel to open silently.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.App(visible=True)
app.api.ShowStartupDialog = False
print("Startup dialog has been disabled.")
# Now, if you restart Excel manually, the startup screen won't appear.
# Note: This change may persist in Excel's settings, affecting future sessions.
app.quit()

3. Enable the Startup Dialog and Open a New Workbook:
   This code ensures the startup dialog is enabled, then opens a new workbook. This can be part of a setup routine for user-facing applications.

import xlwings as xw
app = xw.App(visible=True)
app.api.ShowStartupDialog = True
workbook = app.books.add() # Add a new workbook
print("Startup dialog enabled and a new workbook created.")
# The startup screen will show next time Excel is launched without a workbook.
workbook.save("NewWorkbook.xlsx")
app.quit()