Double click to open files inoperative

**BNBrown** · 02-03-2013, 03:29 PM

All of a sudden I can no longer open excel files by double clicking on the file icon. I can still open files by using the open dialogue box but not by double clicking those, for example, those in windows explorer. Right clicking on the icon and and then on the open menu item does not work either.It happens on both my own files and those from others sent as attachments. I can double click on Word and other programmes' files and they open as normal. Have tried to restore but did not have a restore point to go back to.

Any suggestions much appreciated

**FDibbins** · 02-03-2013, 04:47 PM

Hi BNBrown and welcome to the forum

It sounds to me like the "file association" to excel has got lost some where.

In windows explorer, find an excel file, right click on it and select "open with"
Search until you find excel i the list of programs, select that, make sure the "Always use" is checked, and then click OK

Hope this helps?

**BNBrown** · 02-03-2013, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the advice but tried that without success. I should have mentioned that I get dialogue box come up with the message saying that "there was a problem sending the command to the program".

**vlady** · 02-03-2013, 11:11 PM

just an experiment. change your default printer then test open the files.

**BNBrown** · 02-05-2013, 04:41 AM

Thanks for this...but still no joy.

**BNBrown** · 02-09-2013, 07:18 PM

Manage to solve the problem and thought I would share it with you.

In Excel 2007, click the Office Button then click the [Excel Options] button
down at the lower right corner of that window. Choose the [Advanced] group
and scroll down into the 'General' area (very near the bottom). Try changing
the setting of the "Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange
(DDE)".

Click [OK] to accept the change, close Excel and then reopen it (just to
make sure it 'sees' the change) and test if it works. It did for me."

Many thanks for being there.
"