Avast scans items on exclusion list

I just had my computer tuned up (2006 Windows XP PC) and the tech installed Avast.
Whenever I open a spreadsheet, which is numerous times a day, Avast scans it.
I noted the address that was being scanned, which was the program I used to create the document (1995 edition of MSWORKS.exe), and added it to the Hardened Mode exclusion and tested it. Still scanned.
I then added the file path for the folder these documents are in into the File Path exclusion.
Restarted computer and they are still being scanned.
Any thoughts?

Where/how did you add them to the exclusion list and to what exclusion list ?

I opened AVAST Free, selected Settings and then Exclusion as directed in help function.

I put the .exe address (the program that created the scanned document and shows on the AVAST popup screen) in Hardened Mode tab and the folder with the files in File Path tab using an * to indicate all spreadsheet files in that folder. I followed the instructions for placement tabs supplied by Avast Help.

This program is replacing AVG which did exactly the same thing and ignored the exclusions also.