Shortcut failed

[Guest]

I have MS Office 2003 on Win XP

I recently downloaded and applied 2003 SP3.
Since then, none of my shortcuts to Excel files open the relevant folder
directly.
Nor does double clicking on the file in Windows Explorer.
Either action only opens Excel with Book.xlt displayed.
I then have to double click the file again to open it.
Before it would open directly.
This only happens in Excel - other .doc files open ok directly in Word.
What am I missing?

 

[Guest]

Tools>Options>General uncheck "Ignore other Applications" Exit Excel and try
again If this does not work, re-register Excel.

 

[Gord Dibben]

To re-register............

Close Excel first and On the Windows Taskbar

1) Start>Run excel.exe /unregserver
2) Start>Run excel.exe /regserver

See the space between exe and /regserver

You might have to designate a full path to excel.exe.
In that case Start>Run "C:\yourpath\excel.exe" /regserver


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

Hi Gord
I did your suggestion.
Error message says Windows cannot find the path and file.
If I leave out space\unregserver it opens Excel normally.
I browsed to Excel.exe so I know I have the right path etc.

 

[Gord Dibben]

What exactly did you type into the Start>Run dialog box?

Type it exactly into your response to this reply.

You don't want to have the command open Excel.

You also must use a forward slash /

Not a back slash \ as you have shown.

Do you have the quotes around "C:\yourpath\excel.exe" /regserver


Gord

 

[Guest]

Hi Gord
This is what I typed; it produced the error message I mentioned.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE /unregserver

 

[Gord Dibben]

Need the double quotes whenever the path has spaces in folder or file name.

Add them or copy this to the Run dialog.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /unregserver


Gord

 

[Guest]

Yes - I had the double quotes in the wrong place.
But, although the reserver command line now calls up Windows Installer for
MS Office - configuration and completes OK, the problem remains.
I also have Tools/Options/General/Ignore Other Applications unchecked.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Quoting from your original post.............

Either action only opens Excel with Book.xlt displayed.
I then have to double click the file again to open it.
Before it would open directly.

Does an actual file named Book.xlt open? I have no idea why that would happen.

Maybe you mean just a blank workbook named Book1 opens?

Try this to eliminate the Book1 opening and should also cure the other.

Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Folder Options>File Types

If using WinXP OS you would scroll down to .XLS then "Advanced">Open>Edit.

In Command line the path should be similar to this....

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /e

You must have the double quotes and the <space>/e prevents a new book from
opening.

Below have "use DDE" checked and this in the DDE message box....[open("%1")]

Application should read "Excel"(no quotes)


Gord

 

[Guest]

Hi Gord
Advanced did not appear in the File Types window when I scrolled to .xls.
But a Restore button was so I selected .xls and pressed Restore.
This changed the file type under Extension from XLS to Microsoft Excel
Worksheet and the Advanced button appeared.
This sorted the problem.
Many thanks Gord for your help.
Regards
Don Bowyer

donwb

Quoting from your original post.............

Either action only opens Excel with Book.xlt displayed.
I then have to double click the file again to open it.
Before it would open directly.

Does an actual file named Book.xlt open? I have no idea why that would happen.

Maybe you mean just a blank workbook named Book1 opens?

Try this to eliminate the Book1 opening and should also cure the other.

Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Folder Options>File Types

If using WinXP OS you would scroll down to .XLS then "Advanced">Open>Edit.

In Command line the path should be similar to this....

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /e

You must have the double quotes and the <space>/e prevents a new book from
opening.

Below have "use DDE" checked and this in the DDE message box....[open("%1")]

Application should read "Excel"(no quotes)


Gord

Yes - I had the double quotes in the wrong place.
But, although the reserver command line now calls up Windows Installer for
MS Office - configuration and completes OK, the problem remains.
I also have Tools/Options/General/Ignore Other Applications unchecked.

 

[Gord Dibben]

I have never seen a Restore button at that dialog........... but glad to hear
you're sorted out.


Gord

Hi Gord
Advanced did not appear in the File Types window when I scrolled to .xls.
But a Restore button was so I selected .xls and pressed Restore.
This changed the file type under Extension from XLS to Microsoft Excel
Worksheet and the Advanced button appeared.
This sorted the problem.
Many thanks Gord for your help.
Regards
Don Bowyer

donwb

Quoting from your original post.............

Either action only opens Excel with Book.xlt displayed.
I then have to double click the file again to open it.
Before it would open directly.

Does an actual file named Book.xlt open? I have no idea why that would happen.

Maybe you mean just a blank workbook named Book1 opens?

Try this to eliminate the Book1 opening and should also cure the other.

Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Folder Options>File Types

If using WinXP OS you would scroll down to .XLS then "Advanced">Open>Edit.

In Command line the path should be similar to this....

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /e

You must have the double quotes and the <space>/e prevents a new book from
opening.

Below have "use DDE" checked and this in the DDE message box....[open("%1")]

Application should read "Excel"(no quotes)


Gord

Yes - I had the double quotes in the wrong place.
But, although the reserver command line now calls up Windows Installer for
MS Office - configuration and completes OK, the problem remains.
I also have Tools/Options/General/Ignore Other Applications unchecked.