XLS file opens with a "1" behind name

  • Thread starter Thread starter PCLIVE
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PCLIVE

Can somebody tell me why when I open an excel document through Windows
Explorer, it does open as the same file name? Instead, it opens as the file
name with a "1" behind it. For example: The file name is "Test.xls". When
I double-click on it to open it, it opens as "Test1". Then when I just hit
the 'Save' button, it acts as if I clicked 'Save As'.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Paul
 
Thanks for the suggestion, but this same file has not always opened this
way. This is also an .xls file. Is it possible for this to be a template
file with an .xls extention?

Thanks,
Paul
 
I think we may be on the wrong track with this one. There is no indication
that any of these files are template files. They all have the .xls
extention. I even opened a new workbook with a default name of "Book1.xls".
I clicked the save button, the save as type was 'Microsoft Excel Workbook
(*.xls)'. Without changing anything, I clicked 'Save'. I then located this
file through Windows Explorer and double-clicked on it. It opened as
"Book11.xls".

Could there be a setting issue in how .xls files are opened from Windows
Explorer? For example, I go to Windows Explorer-Tools-Folder Options-File
Types. Locate and selecte the XLS extention. Click the Advanced button.
Select Open and then click Edit.

I've listed my settings below. Do these look ok?

Application used to perform action
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE" /e %1

Use DDE is checked

DDE Message
[new("%1")]

Application
EXCEL

DDE Application Not Running
Blank

Topic
System



Thanks again,
Paul
 
I'm not sure I'm helping, but can you answer a couple of questions?

Do you have windows explorer set to show extensions? If no, turn this on:
Windows start button|Settings|control panel|Folder options|View Tab (in WinXP).
Make sure "hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.

Now when you open a workbook named test.xls, what do you see in excel's title
bar? If you're seeing test1 (with no extension, then excel is opening that
text.xls as a template.

In my minor testing, this wasn't a function of how the workbook was saved, it
was a function of how windows/excel opened the file.

Open windows explorer, traverse to the folder that holds that test.xls workbook.
Rightclick on that workbook.
You'll see windows default action in bold (for .xls files, it should be Open).
For real template (.xlt), you should see New in bold letters.

If this is not what you're seeing, you could try to change the settings manually
(usually a pain). Or maybe simply reregistering excel would fix it.

Close excel
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.

----

If you're clicking on test.xls and seeing test1.xls open, then that wasn't the
problem (although the /unregserver & /regserver can't hurt to try.

The only time I've seen a character added to the file name like this is when I'd
open an excel attachment in an email. Some email programs (Netscape
Communicator is the one I remember) will notice that there's a file using that
attachment's name (in Netscape's work folder) and the email program will add a
digit to make the name unique.

But I've never seen that happen just by doubleclicking on a file in windows
explorer.

I'd try the /unregserver & /regserver stuff just to be able to say I tried it.
It may help the next person's suggestion.
 
Thanks for responding Dave.

This is Windows XP. 'Hide extensions...' is not checked. The files open as
you state. It opens as "Test1" without the extension. With no extension in
the title bar, I would agree that it must be opening as if the file was a
template file.
When I right-click on the .xls file, 'Open' is in bold as expected with an
..xls file.

I tried reregistering excel. Success! I'm not sure what changed, but I
think it may have had something to do with the way Windows Explorer was
setup to handle .xls files. I included my settings in my last response to
JE McGimpsey. I noticed now that I reregistered per your instruction, the
"%1" is no longer at the end of 'Application used to perform action'. I
think I had tried removing that manually once before, but it would keep
coming back automatically. Anyway it seems to work now.

Thanks for your help.
Paul
 
If you're lucky, you can find a pc set up the same way as yours and copy those
settings.

But I've always found it easier/safer to try reregistering first.

Glad you got it working.
 
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