XL97: Double-Clicking Workbook in MS Exchange Causes Error (158543)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Exchange, when you double-click a Microsoft Excel workbook stored in a mail folder, you may receive the following error message:

A problem occurred while working with, or connecting to, a linked or an embedded object or its source application.

CAUSE

This will occur if all of the following conditions are true:

The workbook in question is saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format.

-and-
You have not installed Microsoft Outlook 97 on your computer.

-and-
You have installed Microsoft Excel 97 on your computer.

WORKAROUND

To prevent this problem from occurring, do any of the following:

Install Service Pack 3 for the Microsoft Exchange client.

-or-
Make sure that Microsoft Excel workbooks stored in mail folders are saved in the Microsoft Excel 97 workbook format.

-or-
Use Microsoft Outlook 97 instead of Microsoft Exchange.

-or-
Do not double-click a Microsoft Excel workbook stored in a mail folder. Instead, drag the workbook from the mail folder to your desktop. Now you can double-click the copy of the workbook on your desktop.

When you are done making changes to the workbook, save and close it. Remove the original workbook from the mail folder and drag the revised workbook from the desktop to the appropriate mail folder.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. The problem is corrected in Microsoft Outlook 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Outlook both allow you to store Microsoft Excel workbooks in mail folders. To store a workbook in a mail folder:

In the Windows Explorer, locate the workbook you want to store in a mail folder.
Using the mouse, drag the workbook to a folder in your Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Outlook window.

The workbook should appear in the folder with the rest of your messages. The "Subject" of the workbook "message" is its file name.

If you double-click the workbook "message", Microsoft Excel will open the workbook. However, if all of the conditions listed above are true, the workbook will not open, and you will receive the error message shown above.