Microsoft KB Archive/183854

Knowledge Base

OFF98: Double-Clicking a File Starts Earlier Version of the Program

Article ID: 183854

Article Last Modified on 11/13/2003

---

APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh
• Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh
• Microsoft PowerPoint 98 for Macintosh

---

This article was previously published under Q183854

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a file that was created in a Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition program, the file may be opened in an earlier version of the Office program. For example, when you double-click an Excel file, Microsoft Excel 5.0 is started instead of Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if you have installed Office 4.2 since October 22, 1997.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Install Different Versions on Separate Partitions

If another hard disk partition is available, install each version of Office on a separate partition. If you then keep the documents that you want to open in the Office 98 program on the hard disk partition that contains Office 98, the problem does not occur.

Method 2 - Reinstall the Earlier Version After Setting Back the Date

1. Remove Office 4.2 from your computer. To remove Office 4.2, follow these steps:
   
   
   1. Open the Microsoft Office folder on your hard disk.
   2. Double-click Microsoft Office Setup.
   3. Click Remove All.
   Office 4.2 is removed from your computer.
2. Point to Control Panels on the Apple menu, and then click Date & Time. Set the date that appears in the Current date box to any date prior to October 22, 1997.
3. Reinstall Office 4.2.
4. Rebuild the desktop file. To rebuild the desktop, follow these steps:
   
   
   1. Restart the computer.
   2. When the welcome screen appears as the computer is restarting, press and continue to hold COMMAND+OPTION.
   3. When you are prompted to rebuild the desktop file, release the keys and click OK.
5. Point to Control Panels on the Apple menu, and then click Date & Time. Set the date that appears in the Current date box to the current date.

When you double-click an Office document, the Office 98 program is started.

MORE INFORMATION

The installation program for Office 4.2 sets the Created date of the program files to the date on which you installed Office. If this date is later than the Created date of the Office 98 programs, your files are opened in the Office 4.2 programs when you double-click the files.

Additional query words: OFF98 multiple versions

Keywords: kbnofix kbprb kbfaq KB183854

---

Send feedback to Microsoft

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.