Cannot open excel docs from My Documents

[Paul Spannuth]

I have Excel 2000 running on Windows 98SE. When I try
and open a doc. from any folder outside of Excel a
message pops up that says "Cannot find the file 'C:\My
Documents\(Whatever the path folder is)\(name of
Document).xls (or one of its components). Make sure the
path and filename are correct and that all required
libraries are available."
At the same time it will open Excel, but no document. If
I go to the open file button in Excel, then the file will
open.
I got a response from another newsgroup, but it did not
solve the problem. He had me go to Explorer\View\Folder
Options\File Types. The settings for Excel Worksheet
were just as he said they should be, but still no luck.
Can you help me?

 

[beeawwb]

All I can do is provide some possible insight into the reason, I don't
quite know how to fix it.

Excel / Windows are looking the MSDos type 8 char format, which doesn't
recognize spaces. So, when you double click the document, it thinks you
are trying to open c:\my, and documen~1\workbook.xls (2 seperate
workbooks, neither of which exists).

The only way I've found to work around it, is keep file names under 8
char, and no spaces (in filename or folder names). It's not what you're
looking for though. Theoretically, changing the DDE Settings for the
open file type might help it, but the strange thing is this.

I'm at work which run's Windows NT4. Now, this has happened at my 2
previous workplaces, and neither could fix it. They installed Excel 97
over a copy of Excel 95, leaving 95 intact. Double clicking would try
to open files in Excel 95. Change which program they open with (95 to
97) and suddenly you get the file path error. Change the file settings
to EXACTLY the same as 95, but with the 97 program, and it still doesnt
like it.

Maybe somebody can take that information and come up with a solution.
I'm quite curious as to what can be done myself.

-Bob

 

[Gord Dibben]

Paul

First try the standard fix(es)......Tools>Options>General uncheck "ignore
other applications"

OR Start>Run "excel.exe /regserver"(no quotes and note the space before the /
mark).

You may have to enter your full path to excel.exe....in that case surround
with quotes as in..... "C:\mypath\to Excel\somewhere\excel.exe" /regserver

Gord Dibben Excel MVP