OFF98: Blank Dialog Box When You Click Hyperlink (185099)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q185099

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition, if you click a hyperlink that is linked to a workbook in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, the following problems may occur:
  • A completely blank dialog box that contains only an OK button appears on the screen.
  • When you click OK in the blank dialog box, you receive the following alert message
    Opening file <Filename>

    Some files can contain viruses or otherwise be harmful to your computer. It is important to be certain that this file is from a trusted source.
    even though the workbook contains no macros.
  • You then receive the following error message:
    A document with the name '<Filename>' is already open. You cannot open two documents with the same name, even if the documents are in different folders.
  • In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, a workbook that was previously open appears to have been closed. Actually, the workbook is now hidden.

CAUSE

These problems may occur if, in Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition, you click two hyperlinks that are linked to two different workbooks that have the same name.

See the "More Information" section later in this article for a demonstration of this problem.

RESOLUTION

If this problem occurs, follow these steps to close the first workbook and activate the second workbook:
  1. In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, click Unhide on the Window menu. Select the hidden workbook and click OK.
  2. On the File menu, click Close. Save changes to the workbook if necessary.
  3. Use the Application menu to switch to the program that contains the hyperlink.
  4. Click the hyperlink for the second workbook.
The second workbook should open correctly in Microsoft Excel.

STATUS

The behavior concerning the blank dialog box and the macro virus warning alert message is incorrect. Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article.

By design, you cannot open two workbooks that have the same name in Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION

The following steps demonstrate the problem described in this article.

  1. Start Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, and create a new workbook.
  2. On the File menu, click Save. In the Save As edit box, type Test. Switch to the Microsoft Office 98 folder, and click Save.
  3. On the File menu, click Save As. Switch to the Desktop folder, and click Save.
  4. On the File menu, click Quit.
  5. Start Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition, and create a new document. On the File menu, click Save. In the Save Current Document As edit box, type Document1. Click Save.
  6. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink. Click the Select button to the right of the Link To File Or URL edit box. Switch to the Desktop folder, and select the Test workbook. Click OK. Then, click OK again.
  7. In the document, press RETURN several times.
  8. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink. Click the Select button to the right of the Link To File Or URL edit box. Switch to the Microsoft Office 98 folder, and select the Test workbook. Click OK. Then, click OK again.
  9. In the document, click the first hyperlink.

    Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition starts and opens the Test workbook.
  10. In Microsoft Excel, click the Back tool on the Web toolbar.
  11. In Microsoft Word, click the second hyperlink.

    A blank dialog box that contains only an OK button appears.
  12. Click OK.

    You receive the first error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.
  13. Click OK.
You receive the second error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section. When you click OK, the first Test workbook is not visible on the screen. You can unhide it by clicking Unhide on the Window menu.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/28/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB185099
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.