# Excel Files Not Opening from File

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-files-not-opening-from-file/116327>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-files-not-opening-from-file/116327 "2002-06-28T04:38:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-files-not-opening-from-file/116327/1 "2002-06-28T04:38:12Z")

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Question, I have seen this before and I fixed it and now I can’t remember how I did it.

If you click directly on any Excel file it normally opens the file and the program Excel. Today the computer stopped. It gives me the message the path can’t be found.

I made sure the computer is associating the file type .xls with Excel (thru the My Computer Icon), I defraged the computer.

It opens Word, Lotus, Access and other just with a click on the file.

I also can open the Excel File by going and opening up Excel first THEN opening up the file THRU Excel’s File -\> Open.

What else should I try

Thanks for any help

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-files-not-opening-from-file/116327/2 "2002-06-28T05:44:47Z")

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Is it a long file name?

If so, you might try [this](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q201601).

If not, providing us with your OS (version, SP level, etc.), Excel (version, SP level, etc.), the full path and filename of the file in question, and also the exact error message text, including any error numbers, might help us solve the problem.

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-files-not-opening-from-file/116327/3 "2002-06-28T07:37:22Z")

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Markxxx, did you make a shortcut to this file on your desktop or in a folder, and then accidentally move or delete the real file? A shortcut would have a small arrow in the bottom corner of the icon.

Right-click on the file and see what the path is. Then “follow” that path and see if the file is really there or not.

From your post it sounds like this is what happened, since you can get the real file from File-\> open.

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**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-files-not-opening-from-file/116327/4 "2002-06-28T14:40:56Z")

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Either one of the above is a good suggestion. I’ve personally encountered this when manually re-naming a file in Windows Exploror using syntax not campatible with older versions of Excel. Try to rename the file something real simple.