Sometimes one of these works when you're having trouble with double clicking on
the file in windows explorer:

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 some of the windows registry to
excel's factory defaults.



atlantic grouper wrote:

When I double click on a .xls file, the program lauches, but the data does
not. If I start excel first then open the file from the menu bar the data is
present.

--

Dave Peterson