KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q137828: Cannot Open Unassociated File with Office 95 Programs

Article: Q137828
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95
Last Modified: 16-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
- Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0 
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0 
- Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to open a file with a long filename (LFN) that has no association
in an Office 95 program (Word or Microsoft Excel), the program opens but the
selected document does not open.

For example, if you try to open a file named "Long File Name.<xxx>," you
receive an error message for each name in the LFN. If you try to open the "Long
File Name.<xxx>" file, you receive error messages similar to the
following:

  Cannot find <path>\Long.xls or <path>\Long.doc
  Cannot find <path>\File.xls or <path>\File.doc
  Cannot find <path>\Name.xls or <path>\Name.doc

Notes
-----

- This problem does not apply to PowerPoint 7.0 or WordPad.

- This problem occurs only with files whose filenames contain spaces.


CAUSE
=====

Office 95 Setup does not modify the registry correctly for Word 7.0 and
Microsoft Excel 7.0. This problem applies to both the integrated Office 95
versions and the standalone versions of Word 7.0 and Microsoft Excel 7.0.

RESOLUTION
==========

To correct this problem, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer.

2. On the View menu, click Options.

3. On the File Types tab, click Microsoft Excel Worksheet in the Registered File
  Types box, and then click Edit.

4. In the Actions box, click Open, and then click Edit.

5. In the Application Used To Perform Action box, append a space and "%1" (with
  the quotation marks) to the end of the line. For example, the corrected line
  might look like:

  C:\MSOffice\Excel\excel.exe "%1"

  NOTE: It is important that there be a space before "%1".

6. Click OK, and then click Close twice.

7. Repeat steps 3-7 for Microsoft Word Documents.


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and
Microsoft Word version 7.0 for Windows 95. We are researching this problem and
will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes
available.

Additional query words: word95 word7

======================================================================
Keywords          : win95 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbOfficeSearch kbExcelSearch kbWin95search kbWord700Search kbExcel700 kbExcel95Search kbOffice95Search kbOffice95 kbZNotKeyword3 kbWord700 kbWin95
Version           : 95

=============================================================================

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.