You receive a "The command cannot be performed" error message when you double-click to open a document from Word 2003 (827732)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Word 2003

SYMPTOMS

If you double-click a document (for example, in Microsoft Windows Explorer) to open the document in Microsoft Office Word 2003, you may receive the following error message:
The command cannot be performed because a dialog box is open. Click "OK" and then close open dialog boxes to continue.
You do not receive this error message in Microsoft Word 2002.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if you have a Word 2003 template in your Startup folder that contains an autoexec macro that opens a dialog box.

WORKAROUND

Method 1: Open in Word

To open the document directly in Word, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word 2003.
  2. On the File menu, click Open.
  3. In the Open dialog box, select the document that you want, and then click Open.

Method 2: Remove the Template from Your Startup Folder

To remove a template from your startup folder, follow these steps:
  1. Quit Word 2003.
  2. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
  3. Locate one of the following folders:

    Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup

    Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Startup folder

  4. Double-click the Startup folder to open it.
  5. In the right Windows Explorer pane, click to select the template that you want to remove, and then press the DELETE key.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/23/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB827732 kbAudEndUser
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