A complete guess....

Try reregistering excel.

Close Excel
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets the windows registry to excel's
factory defaults.


Tom wrote:

Thanks for both replies, but I don't think I'm getting the problem
across properly. The personal.xls file is in the XLStart directory (we
actually specify a custom start directory, but it's the same
regardless) and hidden. When I open the Excel _application_ (running
the executable through a desktop icon or the start menu), personal.xls
comes up fine. I can then File|Open any file and use the macro on it.

The problem is when I don't run the Excel _application_, but
double-click on an XLS (or CSV, or anything associated with Excel)
_file_. It opens the file in Excel, but personal.xls doesn't load with
it and the macros are not available. The difference is how the file is
opened.

Example:
Double-click on Excel icon and File|Open C:\file.xls. Everything
works.
Double-click on C:\file.xls and it opens up in Excel. Personal.xls
doesn't load with it.

The difference may seem minor, but it's meant for people who only
understand how to double-click things on the desktop. They may not
understand Windows directory structures and can't be expected to know
how to use File|Open.

Thanks for any additional help.

Tom

"David McRitchie" wrote in message ...
Hi Tom,

... and then back in Excel use Window, Hide file
to hide your personal.xls

"Chip Pearson" wrote
Put the file in the XLStart folder, typically C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Office\Office\XLStart .

--

Dave Peterson