Can't start Excel based on File Type

S

Stuart

When I start Excel I can open any of my .xls files, everything works fine.
However, when I simply double click on an .xls file, Excel starts up, but
won't open my file. For example, if I double click "A B C.xls" I will get
four error messages: "Unable to open A", "Unable to open B", "Unable to open
C", and even "Unable to open .xls"! I have checked file types under folder
options, it seems to be set up properly. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Stuart
 
J

Jim Rech

Make sure Ignore other Applications is not selected under Tools, Options,
General.

--
Jim
| When I start Excel I can open any of my .xls files, everything works fine.
| However, when I simply double click on an .xls file, Excel starts up, but
| won't open my file. For example, if I double click "A B C.xls" I will get
| four error messages: "Unable to open A", "Unable to open B", "Unable to
open
| C", and even "Unable to open .xls"! I have checked file types under
folder
| options, it seems to be set up properly. Any suggestions?
| Thanks, Stuart
 
S

Stuart

Jim, there is no such selection available to me under Tools, Options,
General. I am using XP. Stuart
 
J

Jim Rech

Please look again. It's there, really. Tools, Options, General.

--
Jim
| Jim, there is no such selection available to me under Tools, Options,
| General. I am using XP. Stuart
|
|
| "Jim Rech" wrote:
|
| > Make sure Ignore other Applications is not selected under Tools,
Options,
| > General.
| >
| > --
| > Jim
| > | > | When I start Excel I can open any of my .xls files, everything works
fine.
| > | However, when I simply double click on an .xls file, Excel starts up,
but
| > | won't open my file. For example, if I double click "A B C.xls" I will
get
| > | four error messages: "Unable to open A", "Unable to open B", "Unable
to
| > open
| > | C", and even "Unable to open .xls"! I have checked file types under
| > folder
| > | options, it seems to be set up properly. Any suggestions?
| > | Thanks, Stuart
| >
| >
| >
 
S

Stuart

Jim, I now understand that you mean Tools/Options/General in Excel, not in
Windows Explorer. The person I am helping with this has left for the day
(we're on the East Coast) so I will have to try this with her tomorrow. Will
let you know.

Thanks, Stuart
 
S

Stuart

Jim, this works partially...... Ignore applications had been checked, and
we unchecked it. What happens now, let's say you try to double click file
"A B C.xls". Excel says "can't open A", then it says "can't open B", then
can't open C", then can't open .XLS, then it correctly opens the file!
Better than before but still not all the way there. Any ideas?

Thanks, Stuart
 
D

Dave Peterson

Sometimes this works when the other fails:

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets the windows registry to excel's
factory defaults.
 
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