Files won't open automatically

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dawn
  • Start date Start date
D

Dawn

Hi,

I would appreciate any help people could give me. I have a
simple problem, but can't fix it. If I try to double click
on any Word or Excel file it won't open. Instead it will
open the program, ie Word, and say the file is
unavailable. Once Word is now open, I can open the file.
It is really annoying, and I am sure it is just a matter
of fixing a setting somewhere.

Thank you, reply via email if possible,
Dawn
 
[posted and mailed]

Hi,

I would appreciate any help people could give me. I have a
simple problem, but can't fix it. If I try to double click
on any Word or Excel file it won't open. Instead it will
open the program, ie Word, and say the file is
unavailable. Once Word is now open, I can open the file.
It is really annoying, and I am sure it is just a matter
of fixing a setting somewhere.

Thank you, reply via email if possible,
Dawn
Click to expand...

It is likely that the dde is not set properly. Open a folder and click
tools > folder options > file types tab. Scroll down to the appropriate
file type (ie .doc for word documents). Click the "advanced" button. Make
sure that under actions "open" is present and bold (ie default). Double
click open. You should see the following:

Action: open
application used to perform action: "c:\path\winword.exe" /n
(where "path" is the path to the folder MS Word is in)

Use DDE should be checked. If it isn't, check it. Then:

DDE Message: [REM _DDE_Direct][FileOpen("%1")]
Appliction: WinWord
DDE Application Not Running: <blank>
Topic: System

These last 4 entries should be exactly as I've typed them (no entry for
Not Running) although the "REM" in DDE Message is likely dispensible.

Similarly for other office apps. "Application" should be entered as
"Excel" for Excel and I do not belive powerpoint uses DDE anyway (mine
doesn't).

HTH.
 
Back
Top