OL97: Error When Opening Excel Freedoc in Outlook

 Last reviewed: January 19, 1998
Article ID: Q174717
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Outlook 97, when you double-click a Microsoft Excel 97 freedoc (an Office document posted directly to a folder rather than an attachment to a message) you may get one of the following error messages: 

   Outlook could not track the program used to open this document.
   Any changes you make to the document will not be saved to the
   original document.

   -or-

   Can't open this item. A dialog box may be open in another program
   preventing Outlook from performing this operation. Switch to that
   program and close any open dialog boxes.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when Excel is not opened before double-clicking the freedoc, or the following Add-Ins are loaded in Excel: 

   - AutoSave

   - ODBC Add-In

RESOLUTION

Unload the two Excel Add-Ins, or open Excel before double-clicking the Excel freedoc.

MORE INFORMATION

Unloading the Excel Add-ins

  1. On the Excel Tools menu click, Add-Ins.

  2. Click to deselect AutoSave and ODBC Add-In, then click OK.

  3. Quit Excel.

If you prefer to leave the Excel Add-Ins turned on, you can start and minimize Excel before double-clicking the Excel freedoc.

Result: When you double-click the Excel freedoc, you will not receive the error message. 

Keywords          : kbinterop
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: January 19, 1998
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