Microsoft KB Archive/152377

Microsoft Knowledge Base

MXL5: Excel for Mac 15-Digit Patch Will not Expand to Desktop

Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q152377

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you install the 15-digit patch for Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, the "UnStuffing" process will state that it was successful, but when you double-click the file that is created, you may experience either of the following:

• You receive the following error:

        The document <patch file name> could not be opened, because the
        application program that created it could not be found

  Your only option is to click OK.

  -or-

• A version of StuffIt starts and you receive the following error:

        <patch file name> does not appear to be a StuffIt archive. Continue
        working with it?

  You can click Yes or No. But, clicking either Yes or No will not start Microsoft Excel.

CAUSE

You may experience this problems if you tried to install the 15-digit patch to the Desktop.

NOTE: You will receive the first error message if you do not have any version of StuffIt on your computer, and you will receive the second error message if you do have a version of StuffIt on your computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, delete the file that was created on the Desktop, and then rerun the 15-digit patch. However, install the patch to either a new folder or to an existing folder on your hard drive. To install the 15- digit patch to a new folder, follow these steps:

1. Insert Disk 1 of the 15-digit patch disks into the floppy drive.

2. Based on your current installation of Microsoft Excel, double-click the appropriate setup file listed in the following table:

         Microsoft Excel                  15-Digit Patch
         Installation                     Disk 1 Setup file
         --------------------------------------------------
   
         Power Macintosh                  ExcelPower.sea
         68K Macintosh                    Excel68k.sea
         FAT                              ExcelFAT.sea
   

3. Click Continue in the first window that appears.
4. In the next window, choose the folder in which you want the New folder to reside, and then click New.
5. In the next dialog box, enter the name for the folder to be created, and then click Create.
6. In the "Unstuff as:" edit box, enter the name for the "patched" version of Microsoft Excel, and then click Save.

The install program will then unstuff all the necessary files from the disks, and you will be prompted to insert Disk 2, Disk 3 (and also Disks 4 and 5 if you are doing a FAT install), and then Disk 1 again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q151523
   TITLE     : How to Install the Excel for the Macintosh 15-Digit Patch

If you unstuff the Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 15-digit patch to a folder other than the folder that contains your existing version of Microsoft Excel, you will have to do the following in order for the patched version of Microsoft Excel to work:

1. Delete the file called "Microsoft Excel" that is in the folder in which you originally installed Microsoft Excel.

   NOTE: If you drag this file to the Trash, you need to empty the Trash.

2. Move or copy the patched version of Microsoft Excel to the folder in which you originally installed Microsoft Excel.
3. If you did not unstuff the 15-digit patch as "Microsoft Excel," rename the patch as "Microsoft Excel."

You should now be able to start Microsoft Excel, and the 15-digit patch will now be in effect.

StuffIt is manufactured by Aladdin Systems, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kbusage kberrmsg kbprb kbsetup kb3rdparty KBSubcategory: xlmac Additional reference words: 5.00 5.00a THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Last reviewed: September 12, 1996 ©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.