Sometimes one of these works:

Tools|Options|General|Ignore other applications (uncheck it)

--- or ---

Close Excel and
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.

Damian wrote:

When I try to open excel files from the directory or from desktop I only get
a blank worksheet not the file. I have to then go through File Open to get
the file I want.

There must be a way to have them open automatically.

--

Dave Peterson