PC Win: Lotus 1-2-3 Does Not Launch Mail Attachment

• Microsoft Mail for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, and 3.2

SYMPTOMS

With versions 3.0 and 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for Windows, you cannot launch Lotus 1-2-3 version 3.0 or 3.1 mail attachments by double-clicking the attached icon.

CAUSE

Lotus 1-2-3 does not allow you to load files directly by using a filename as a command-line parameter.

RESOLUTION

This is a limitation of Lotus 1-2-3 versions 3.0 and 3.1 and is not a Microsoft Windows or Mail problem.

Lotus works around this problem by using a 123.BAT batch file and an AUTO123.WK3 autoexecute macro. The 123.BAT file creates a text file with the name and path of the file to be loaded and then loads 123.EXE. The AUTO123.WK3 file reads the filename and path information from the text file and loads the desired file.

In Windows File Manager, the File Associate command associates .WK3 files with 123.BAT instead of 123.EXE.

Specific information on the creation of the 123.BAT and AUTO123.WK3 files is available from Lotus in a technical note titled, "Loading a 123 3.0 File from the Command Line."

For more information, contact Lotus Technical Support at (617) 253-9150.

Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus Development Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.