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Thread ID: 85661 2007-12-18 00:36:00 Word 97 problem linw (53) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
622237 2007-12-18 00:36:00 Anyone seen this before? Friend tries to open a word doc, even one he has created himself, by dbl clicking the doc file in his My Documents folder . Word fires up and pops up an error window saying it can't open the document, check filename and extension .

So, you click on the OK button . Another window pops up saying the document name or path is invalid . Click, OK . Then three more of the same, then the doc opens .

Docs open fine from Word itself .

Tried googling but it is a bit hard to define a search!

Probably time for a re-install, I guess .
linw (53)
622238 2007-12-18 00:40:00 Haha, I had that a short time ago with Vista and Office XP.

I reinstalled Office which cured that.
pctek (84)
622239 2007-12-18 01:01:00 Try this open My Computer, select tools> Folder options>View . Select Show hidden files and folders, click OK .

try going to search and select Files and Folders>More advanced options> Select hidden files and folders & Syatem Files .

In the search are search for Normal . dot - when you find it, right click and rename it to normal . old press ok - Reopen word - see if any better .
wainuitech (129)
622240 2007-12-18 03:34:00 Does the doc file have spaces in the filename? I've had problems with other packages stuffing up the registry settings for other file types - the shell/open command for that file type loses it's quotes &, lo and behold, you suddenly can't open any file with spaces in the file name - or path.

If this is your experience, have a look in Tools/Folder Options in My Computer, select the File Types tab & select the DOC extension. Select the Advanced tab (this is XP - it's a bit more direct in earlier versions) & look at the settings for the "Open" action. You should see something like

[FileOpen("%1")]

It's critical that the %1 is surrounded by quotes.
MushHead (10626)
622241 2007-12-18 06:36:00 Thanks for the good suggestions, all. I'll check things out tomorrow.

MushHead, tallies with the experience. Anything in My Documents has a path with spaces in it. And it is this shell command that is being called.

Lindsay.
linw (53)
622242 2007-12-18 22:08:00 Yes, it is having trouble with the spaces in the name/path. I can see it parsing its way along. A name without spaces in the root directory loads fine. Add a space to it - bingo.

But, the open %1 does have dbl quotes around it ("%1"). It looks identical to the entry on my XP machine. Oh, well, I think he is going to install Word2000 so this problem will resolve itself, I guess.

Thanks for the help.
linw (53)
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