XL7: (Non-English Version) Can't Open Files If File Has Data Map

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

If you are using a non-English version of Microsoft Excel and you open a workbook that contains a map that was created with Microsoft Data Map, you may only be able to open other workbooks via the Open dialog box or by dragging the file to Microsoft Excel. In addition, Microsoft Excel may fail to respond to DDE commands sent to it by other applications.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because of the way in which Microsoft Data Map communicates with Microsoft Excel 7.0. When you open a workbook that contains a map, Data Map causes Microsoft Excel to accept incoming DDE commands in English only (even if you are using a non-English version of Microsoft Excel). This behavior continues even after Microsoft Excel has finished processing information from Data Map. This behavior will prevent Microsoft Excel from accepting most (if not all) incoming DDE commands.

When Microsoft Excel is in this state, you will be unable to open files from any of the following locations:

• The Start menu (this includes openning files by clicking the Open Office Document button).
• The Desktop, Explorer, or My Computer (either by double-clicking the file on the Desktop or by double-clicking a shortcut that points to the file).

WORKAROUNDS

To reset the DDE language settings for Microsoft Excel, exit and restart Microsoft Excel.

NOTE: If you need to send DDE commands to Microsoft Excel, do NOT open files that contain maps created in Microsoft Data Map.

To open a file in Microsoft Excel after a file containing a map has already been opened, use either of the following methods:

Method 1: Use the Open dialog box:

          1. Click Open on the File menu, or click the Open button on the
             Standard toolbar.

          2. Select the file you want to open, and then click Open.

           - From My Computer, Explorer, or the Desktop, select the file
             you want to open and drag it to the Microsoft Excel title bar.
             When the icon is over the title bar, release the mouse button
             to drop the file. The file should be opened normally.

           - If Microsoft Excel is minimized, drag the icon for the file
             onto the Microsoft Excel button on the Taskbar. After a second
             or two, the Microsoft Excel window will restore itself. You
             can then drop the file on the Microsoft Excel title bar.

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.