[irainbow]

Does anybody know cause/cure for an error message I get whenever I open a previously stored Excel 97 worksheet:

"A document with the name 'XXXX.xls' is already open. You cannot open two documents with the same name, even if the documents are in different folders.
To open the second document, either close the document that's currently open, or rename one of the documents."

There is never a second occurrence of the worksheet open -- at least, not that I can find.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
rainbow

[Anne Troy]

Sounds to me like you've got an Excel addin checked off under Tools-->Addins, and that you ALSO have it in your XLSTART folder.

You can read more about the XLSTART folder here:
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/...soft_excel.htm

Or perhaps you just need to troubleshoot Excel:
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/...soft_excel.htm

[irainbow]

Originally Posted by Dreamboat

Sounds to me like you've got an Excel addin checked off under Tools-->Addins, and that you ALSO have it in your XLSTART folder.

You can read more about the XLSTART folder here:
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/...soft_excel.htm

Or perhaps you just need to troubleshoot Excel:
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/...soft_excel.htm

Thanks, Dreamboat, for responding. I read both of the articles you linked, but couldn't make any headway of how to apply it to my system. Couldn't find but one XLStart with nothing in it, and deleted the one .xlb file I found, but it just replicated itself when I opened Excel.

Yes, I have Add-Ins that were installed at the time I loaded Excel ... "Conditional Sum Wizard" and "Lookup Wizard." I tried unchecking those two, but I still got the error message.

At any rate, I appreciate the help.

[Anne Troy]

Originally Posted by irainbow

Thanks, Dreamboat, for responding. I read both of the articles you linked, but couldn't make any headway of how to apply it to my system. Couldn't find but one XLStart with nothing in it, and deleted the one .xlb file I found, but it just replicated itself when I opened Excel.

That's right. So if it was corrupt, it's not anymore.

Originally Posted by irainbow

Yes, I have Add-Ins that were installed at the time I loaded Excel ... "Conditional Sum Wizard" and "Lookup Wizard." I tried unchecking those two, but I still got the error message.

So, what file are you opening? Any file? Just "this one" file?

[Anne Troy]

Oh. And did you rename the registry key for Excel?

[irainbow]

Originally Posted by Dreamboat

So, what file are you opening? Any file? Just "this one" file?
__________________
Oh. And did you rename the registry key for Excel?

It happens with ANY Excel file I create. And I have no idea HOW to rename the registry key for Excel.... I guess I skimmed over that portion of the Article quickly ... as soon as I see "regedit," I shudder in fear and trembling!

[jiml8]

You didn't specify what OS you are using.

I have Office 97 (why upgrade?) and I am using it on my WinXP box. I get that exact error message every time I open Excel in XP (but not in Win2K).

It is a known problem with Office 97 and WinXP. To the best of my knowledge, it doesn't hurt anything and doesn't affect any operations.

Either ignore it or upgrade to a later version of Excel.

[irainbow]

Originally Posted by jiml8

You didn't specify what OS you are using.

I have Office 97 (why upgrade?) and I am using it on my WinXP box. I get that exact error message every time I open Excel in XP (but not in Win2K).

It is a known problem with Office 97 and WinXP. To the best of my knowledge, it doesn't hurt anything and doesn't affect any operations.

Either ignore it or upgrade to a later version of Excel.

Yeppers, jiml8 ... you got it. I'm using Windows XP. So, now that I know it can't be fixed, I'll live with it. (Don't use Excel enough to warrant upgrading)

Thanks for putting my mind at rest about this question.

[aloewen]

I ran into the same problem today and looked for a solution here. Not finding it I kept looking. After finding and implementing the solution, I thought I would post the answer here.

In Windows XP, When you open an document in Excel 97 from "my computer" or "Windows Explorer" you get the following error message:

"A document with the name (filename.xls) is already open. You cannot open two documents with the same name, even if the documents are in different folders. To open the second document, either close the document that's currently open, or rename one of the documents."

To fix this goto "Start" then "Run" and type in:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /regserver

Don't forget to include the quotation marks.

--------------------------------------------------
Making your computer more productive!

[irainbow]

Originally Posted by aloewen

I ran into the same problem today and looked for a solution here. Not finding it I kept looking. After finding and implementing the solution, I thought I would post the answer here.

In Windows XP, When you open an document in Excel 97 from "my computer" or "Windows Explorer" you get the following error message:

"A document with the name (filename.xls) is already open. You cannot open two documents with the same name, even if the documents are in different folders. To open the second document, either close the document that's currently open, or rename one of the documents."

To fix this goto "Start" then "Run" and type in:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /regserver

Don't forget to include the quotation marks.

--------------------------------------------------
Making your computer more productive!

WOW aloewen! It worked!!! (Not the first time -- I think one has to have an Excel document open for it to work or else I typed it wrong the first time.)

I am floored and impressed that I have finally received a solution to this. Bless you for your persistent, inquisitive, and sharing nature!

Have a terrific day!
Iris

[Anne Troy]

Iris: If you had followed my directions for troubleshooting Excel, you would have done the regedit, and it would have worked long ago. /regserver does the work similarly.

[irainbow]

Originally Posted by Dreamboat

Iris: If you had followed my directions for troubleshooting Excel, you would have done the regedit, and it would have worked long ago. /regserver does the work similarly.

Dreamboat, in posting my original message, it's probably one of the few times I did not include the request to couch any answer to me in simple, kindergartener (step-by-step) terms. (I'm not a computer whiz and sometimes, having to read those articles and follow links inside what some wizard wrote can be above my head. On the other hand, I am able to follow SIMPLE instructions.)

Today's surprise reply from aloewen provided me with a simple (i.e., concise one-line instruction and exactly what to type) .... Had I realized it was the same as 'regedit' I probably wouldn't have gone near it.

As I recall, I did follow your directions and attempted to understand what was in those articles, but with my A.D.D. + my terror of "regedit" (remembering what havoc I had wrought upon my unwitting computer the ONE time I consciously used 'regedit', I couldn't follow through. (Sometimes, those of you who are more expert overestimate some of our abilities because it may seem so simple to you.)

Anyway, it doesn't mean I appreciated your suggestion any less.

Have a great day,
Iris