You cannot use double-click to open an Excel attachment in Outlook 2000 (231342)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft Exchange Client 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Client 5.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client 5.0
This article was previously published under Q231342

SYMPTOMS

All attempts to open an Excel e-mail file attachment by double-clicking the file are unsuccessful.

If you double-click an Excel attachment from within an e-mail message, Excel starts and appears to stop responding without opening the worksheet. If you minimize Excel, you see the following hidden error message:
The system cannot find the file specified.
If you right-click the Excel e-mail attachment and then click Save As, to save it to your hard disk drive, it saves sucessfully. However, when you double-click the saved file to open it, you receive the following error message:
Cannot find the file <path\filename> (or one of its component(s)). Make sure the path and file name are correct and that all required libraries are available.
If you attempt to open the file from your hard disk drive by clicking Open on the Excel File menu, the file opens.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Close the e-mail message.
  2. Start Excel.
  3. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  4. Under the General tab, click to clear, Ignore other applications, and then click OK.
  5. Quit Excel.
Now you can double-click the attachment to open it in Excel, you can save it to the hard disk drive, and then double-click the file to open it.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this issue, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

149764 Excel Opens Without Displaying Workbook

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbemail kbattachments kbopenfile kbprb KB231342
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