Dbl Click xls file, Excel opens, but no file loaded

Hi there~

The behavior of Excel on my workstation has recently changed and I have no idea why.

Typically, when browsing through folders, you double click on an .xls file and that worksheet is opened within Excel.

Now, when I double click on an .xls file, Excel opens fine, but is empty - no worksheet.

However, there is no problem opening any of the files from within an already-opened Excel.

I can't see any macro or security settings that might cause this, nor do I get any error message. For that matter, I can't see any practical use for this behavior so I'm not sure it's even a configuration setting I inadvertently changed.

I would very much appreciate any advice as to any potential causes.

Excel version is 2003, sp2.

Many thanks!

Hi there!

Many thanks for your succinct file type suggestions. I did check it and my settings matched the ones you listed.

I searched for "personal.xls", including system and hidden files, but it wasn't found.

Is that filename a standard, or could it exist under a different name?

I had looked into the Macro menu areas for clues. In the security area, the level was set at medium. I set it to "low" just to test and got an interesting result.

Clicking on an .xls file now opens the file, then also immediately opens an error dialogue box. If there's a way here to show you a screen snap of the dialogue box, let me know and I'll do it; meanwhile, the message is essentially that Windows can't find the file - but it lists the correct path and filename, plus the thing displays in the background behind the error message.

I subsequently set security from low back to medium, then medium high, then high - and now I get the same result regardless, on all the .xls files I've tried.

I checked for macros and vbscript and wasn't able to find either.

So I think you pointed me in the right direction - it must have something to do with securities or macros. Although I know better than to use the word "must"...let me rephrase: it "appears to me that..."

So at this point, it looks like I can do what I need to do - I just have to deal with the popup message aggravation each time...

I do appreciate your help, and if any additional thoughts come to mind, I'll gratefully accept!

-Gary