This message has been cross-posted to the Macintosh Word, PowerPoint, Excel
& Office groups.
The problem some of you have been experiencing whereby a file received via
email refuses to open when double-clicked has been traced to email and/or
web browser software mishandling the file sometime during its life cycle.
Apparently certain programs of those types modify a key identifier in MS
Office files which the 2008 apps require in order to be activated & open a
file when it's double-clicked .
Although identity of the software hasn't been identified, MacBU is working
with the developers to resolve the situation. In the meanwhile there is no
"fix". However, there are 2 *simple* workarounds which I have tested on
problem files forwarded to me by participants in the Word group. (I've not
tried any Excel or PPt files but would expect the same results.) Most
im****tantly, I have found them to be 100% effective here on both a PPC
running Tiger 10.4.11 with Office 12.1 as well as an Intel MacBook Pro
running Leopard 10.5.0 with the same Office 12.1 update.
The steps are as follows:
Method A:
Use file> Open to open the file, then Save As to create a new copy. This,
of
course leaves you with the bad copy which still has to be disposed of, so
you may prefer to use...
Method B:
1. Use the app's File> Open command to open the file,
2. Make a minor change in the file [such as typing a <space>] then edit
the
change back to what it was if you wish. NOTE: Do Not UNDO to remove the
change that was made - it's im****tant that the document be "dirtied".
3. Save the file (Save As is not necessary in this case).
Using either method the resulting file should be "double-clickable" from
that point on.
I certainly can't guarantee that it will be 100% effective for everyone,
but
based on my experience it should suffice until the cause of the problem is
resolved. If it doesn't work for you there may be other factors involved.
Should that be the case please submit a NEW message in the appropriate
group(s) & give all particulars... The existing threads on this subject
have
been abused to the point that they can't be navigated with any degree of
accuracy. If you stick further replies within them they may never be
found.
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
|
