Microsoft KB Archive/120723

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XL5: Double-Clicking File in File Manager Doesn't Start Excel

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

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SYMPTOMS
In File Manager, when you double-click an .XLS file while a document that contains a Microsoft Excel 5.0 Worksheet object is open in a client application, Microsoft Excel is not started.

CAUSE
This behavior occurs even if the worksheet object is not open for in-place editing. The behavior occurs because while the document that contains the worksheet object is open, an invisible instance of Microsoft Excel is running. Double-clicking an .XLS file in File Manager to open the file in Microsoft Excel appears to have no effect, because Microsoft Excel is already running.

Note that this is not a problem if a visible instance of Microsoft Excel is running when you double-click the file name in File Manager.

WORKAROUND
To open a file in Microsoft Excel while a document that contains a Microsoft Excel 5.0 Worksheet object is open in a client application, do any of the following:


 * Close the document that contains the workbook object before you double-click the filename in File Manager.
 * Start Microsoft Excel by double-clicking the program icon in Program Manager, or by choosing the Microsoft Excel icon from the Microsoft Office Manager (MOM) toolbar.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 5.0c for Windows.